Calpurnia Character Analysis

Calpurnia, a loving devoted wife of Julius Caesar is characterised by her deep concern for his safety completely disregarded by him. Despite her anxious nature, she is gentle, and nurturing illustrating her role as a figure of forewarning and concern in the play.

In this article, we will look deeper at calpurnia’s character exploring her emotional journey in Julius Caesar. This analysis will give a new understanding of her character to the ICSE students to help them understand her love for Julius Caesar.

1. Sketchy picture of Calpurnia

Calpurnia, Julius Caesar’s wife is portrayed as a stark contrast to Portia who reflects the noblest qualities of her husband. Calpurnia is weaker in status and intelligence. Shakespeare portrays her as a sketchy and uninspiring figure mainly defined by her role as a barren wife with no children to Caesar.

In a particular scene, Caesar asks Antony to touch her while running the course during the feast of Lupercal so that she can become fertile but she remains silent and passive, not voicing out much.

2. Terrified of Dream and Storm

In Act 2, scene 2, Calpurnia displays her deep fear when she interprets a storm and disturbing dreams as ominous signs of danger to her husband. She is more terrified of Caesar than of herself.

She believes that the prodigies, the unnatural occurrences foretell the death of some great man who is further convinced that the man is Caesar.

When beggars die, there are comets seen;

The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

3. A Reflection of Caesar

Calpurnia reflects her husband Caesar but in a much weaker and less admirable way. When Caesar talks about his unmatched courage, her love for her husband gives her courage too yet she lacks his strength and wisdom which she believes is consumed by his overconfidence.

Driven by instinct to protect her husband she repeatedly pleads to him not to go to the Senate house attributing to her fear("Call it my fear that keeps you in house, and not your own")rather than his need to stay. Despite her pleas, Caesar initially indulges her request but ultimately changes his mind and goes to the Senate house partly out of greed and partly to avoid ridicule choosing ambition over caution.

Overall, calpurnia’s character is represented as a striking contrast to both Caesar and Portia. Shakespeare portrays her as a weak and unintelligent character who is dismissed by Caesar's ambition and arrogance. This reinforces the theme that personal fears and desires get overshadowed by greater forces of power and pride.