supernatural

• tempestuous weather

  • apocalyptic imagery “tempest dropping fire” creates pathetic fallacy that foreshadows chaos to come
  • sign from polytheistic gods - portents represent disapproval
• soothsayer’s warning

  “Beware the Ides of March” (x3)

  • Caesar‘s hubristic belief he is infallible acts as his hamartia
  • deviates from iambic pentameter - dramatic irony
• Casca’s visions

  “I met a lion“ “men all in fire”

  • apocalyptic imagery foreshadows destruction - didactic warning against mutiny
  • fire symbolism lambasts opposition to divine rights of kings
• calpurnia‘s prophetic dream

  “like a fountain with a hundred spouts, did run pure blood”

  • cosmic scale of apocalyptic imagery - warning for someone of divine status

  ”graves yawning”

  • Caesar is blinded by hubris - hamartia catalyses his death
• caesar’s ghost

  “I shall meet thee at Phillipi”

  • manifestation of Brutus’ guilt - omnipotence and his infinite legacy transcends death
  • Catholic belief ghosts had unfinished business in purgatory