Julius Caesar- Decuis and Caesar

Calpurnia has just begged Caesar to stay home because she has had a terrible dream which she understands to be an omen of bad fortune. Caesar has just given in to Calpurnia when Decuis shows up, to take Caesar to the Senate House, and Convinces Caesar otherwise. Decuis translates Calpurnia's dream to be one of good fortune and virtue, he tells Caesar that the Nobles plan to give him the crown on that day and if he does not show, they might change their minds. This convinces Caesar into leaving with Decuis to the Senate House.

This passage is significant because Decuis manipulates Caesar into going to the Senat House with him which leads to the death Caesar. Caesar was not planning to leave on this day, because his wife Calpurnia convinces him to stay home, however when Decuis arrives he reinterprets the dream to persuade Caesar to leave. This passage Characterizes Caesar, Decuis and Calpurnia. Caesar is characterized as guilible, when Decuis so easily convinces him to come to the Senate House and arrogant when he is explaining why he is nto going out "I will not come; that is enough to satisfy the Senate." This passage also shows that he trust Decuis, considers him to be a freidn and "loves" him. Decuis is characterized as manipulative, persuasive, easily able to turn around a situation (to his benefit) and quick on his feet. Calpurnia's characterization is that she loves Caesar and is at a very vunelable state at this time, begging on her knees that Caesar will stay at home. Calpurnia's dream uses metaphors, similies foreshadowing. "She dreamt tonight she saw my staue, which like a fountain did run pure blood." The metaphor is comparing Caesar's body to a statue, running blood, the simile is comparing the statue to a fountain, and this is foreshadowing Caesar's death, the stabbing of Caesar. There is both verbal and dramatic Irony in this passage, when Decuis telling his interpretation of Calpurnia's dream he relates Caesar to a god and talks about how Caesar will bring Rome together, on that day the conspirators are going to kill Caesar and after the death of him, war begins. This passage includes multiple literary techniques and is a very significant passage in the play "Julius Caesar".




Act 2 Scene 2
lines 57-107

Decius: Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the Senate House.

Caesar: And you come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators,
And tell them that I will not come today;
Cannot if false; and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decuis

Calpurnia: Say he is sick

Caesar: Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

Decuis: Most mighty Caesar, let me knwo some caus,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

Caesar: The cause is in my will; I will not come:
That is enough to satisfy the Senate.
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today.

Decuis: This dream is all amiss interpret;
It was a vision of fair and fortune:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signifed.

Caesar: And this way have you well expanded it.

Decuis: I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now. The Senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word that you will not come,
Thier minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd for some one to say,
'Break up the Senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon me Caesar; for my dear dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.

Caesar: How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.