Discussion Topic
The Soothsayer's Warning to Julius Caesar
Summary:
In Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2, a soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the ides of March," predicting his assassination on March 15. Despite the warning, Caesar dismisses the soothsayer as a dreamer. This dramatic irony highlights Caesar's ignorance of his impending fate. In Act 3, Caesar encounters the soothsayer again, who reminds him that the day is not over, just before Caesar is assassinated by the senators, fulfilling the prophecy.
In Julius Caesar, act 1, scene 2, what does the soothsayer tell Caesar and his response?
In this scene all of Rome is celebrating the Feast of Lupercal, a fertility festival held in honor of the god Lupercus, or Pan; as part of the festivities a foot race is held, in which Marc Antony participates. So, needless to say, there is a very large crowd around Caesar, out for this popular festival. In the throng, the soothsayer calls to Caesar, who, hearing his voice, bids him approach and speak. “Beware the ides of March,” is all he will repeat—a warning of what he has seen in his fortune-telling. Caesar, however, does not take the warning seriously, and instead dismisses the man immediately, stating that “He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass.”
The story of Julius Caesar is well-known today, and was perhaps more well-known in Shakespeare’s time. Thus this event is an example of dramatic irony —the audience knows of Caesar’s fate, and yet...
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Caesar himself disregards the only warning he receives of his forthcoming murder. Similarly, later in the scene Cassius hints to Brutus of his plans to assassinate Caesar, and Caesar, speaking with Antony, notes how he mistrusts Cassius—he “has a lean and hungry look; / he thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.” And yet he asserts, “I fear him not.” Here again is irony, for indeed, if Caesar has anyone to fear, it is Cassius.
In Act I Scene 2, the soothsayer says only one short line to Caesar, but he says it twice. The line is the famous saying, "Beware the Ides of March" (line 20). The Ides of March is March 15, so the soothsayer (a fortune teller) is warning Caesar that something bad will happen to him on that day. Caesar pays little attention to him. In fact, he couldn't even hear him at first, hence the reason why the soothsayer repeated himself. Caeser quickly dismisses him by saying "He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass!" (line 25).
Though Caesar ignores the soothsayer, he ends up running into him again in Act III, Scene I. Caesar remembers the Soothsayer's warning and says, "The Ides of March are come" (line 1). Caesar is basically mocking the soothsayer because his warning didn't hold up. The Soothsayer replies, "Ay, Caesar, but not gone" (line 2). Of course, a few hours later, Caesar is killed and the soothsayer is vindicated.
What did the soothsayer say to Julius Caesar on the Ides Of March?
Towards the beginning of the play, a soothsayer tells Julius Caesar, "Beware the ides of March," which warns him of the senators' plot to assassinate him on March 15 (Shakespeare, 1.2.20). In act 2, scene 3, Artemidorus enters the scene reading a brief letter he that he had written to Julius Caesar, which warns Julius that the conspiring senators plan on murdering him at the Capitol. Artemidorus is a professional diviner and a minor character in the play, who attempts to prevent Caesar's assassination. In act 3, scene 1, Julius Caesar walks to the Capitol and a soothsayer tells him,
The ides of March are come (Shakespeare, 3.1.1).
Artemidorus then hands Caesar his letter and demands that Caesar read it before entering the senate house. Unfortunately, Julius Caesar does heed the soothsayer's warning regarding the Ides of March and does not read Artemidorus's letter warning him about the assassination plot. Later in the scene, the senators successfully assassinate Julius Caesar.
The Soothsayer does not give Caesar a note...Artemidorus does. The Soothsayer speaks when Caesar says, "The Ides of March have come." The Soothsayer says, "Ay, Caesar, but not gone."
The note Artemidorus gives Caesar is his letter informing Caesar of all the conspirators and who he shouldn't trust in the Senate.
What did a soothsayer warn Julius Caesar about?
Throughout the play, two soothsayers warn Julius Caesar to be aware of the senators who are conspiring to assassinate him on March 15th. In Act One, Scene 2, a soothsayer warns Julius Caesar to "Beware the ides of March" (Shakespeare, 1.2.20). The Ides of March is a day on the Roman calendar that corresponds to March 15th, which is when the Roman senators plan on assassinating Julius Caesar. Caesar does not heed the soothsayer's warning and goes against his wife's wishes to travel to the Senate. Before Caesar enters the Senate floor, Artemidorus, who is also a soothsayer, gives Caesar a letter that warns him to stay away from the jealous senators. Artemidorus's letter tells Caesar to avoid Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Cinna, Trebonius, Metellus Cimber, Decius Brutus, and Caius Ligarius, because they plan on harming him. In Act 3, Scene One, Caesar travels to the Senate floor and confidently informs the soothsayer, "The ides of March are come" (Shakespeare, 3.1.1). The soothsayer responds by telling Caesar that the day is not over. Artemidorus then gives Caesar his letter, warning him about the dangerous senators, and urges Caesar to read the letter immediately. Unfortunately, Caesar does to read the letter before addressing the senators and is assassinated on March 15th.