In literary terms, apostrophe is when a person (on stage, in the case of a play) addresses a person or other entity (like a god or a city) that is not physically present on the stage.
There are a number of places in Act II of Julius Caesar where apostrophe is used. For example, in Scene 1 of this act, Brutus is talking about why he thinks Caesar is bad for Rome. He addresses Rome as if it were a living entity there on stage with him. He says
Am I entreated(55)
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,If the redress will follow, thou receivestThy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
In the part that I have put in bold, Brutus addresses Rome and makes a
promise to it. This is a case of apostrophe.
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