These supernatural events often warn the audience that an ominous incident will take place in the near future. Julius Caesar's, Brutus', and Cassius' deaths all can be seen foreshadowed throughout the play with the use of the supernatural. This use of the supernatural thus foreshadows the deaths of these characters.
Several supernatural events affect the character of Julius Caesar in the play. One such event, a soothsayer approaches Caesar and says, “Beware the ides of March” (Shakespeare 7). This event can be seen as supernatural because a soothsayer can be compared to an oracle. The soothsayer can see the future, thus he can be perceived as supernatural. The audience would react to the soothsayer as an omen since they know that he knows the future. In another instance, thunder, lightening, and earthquakes happen while Casca and Cicero speak amongst themselves. “Are you not moved, when all the sway of earth shakes like a thing unfirm?” (Shakespeare 18). Early Romans saw this event as supernatural because a violent storm and earthquakes are very ominous, especially when they happen in succession. Another event that takes place is Calphurnia's dreams about Caesar's death. “Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, "Help, ho! They murder Caesar!"” (Shakespeare 38). This event can be seen as supernatural because Calphurnia dreamed not once, but three times, that Caesar was murdered. The supernatural aspect of her dreams may be the fact that dreams themselves can be considered supernatural, especially dreams of death. Surely, this foreshadows the death of Caesar, as do all the aforementioned events.
Shakespeare foreshadows Cassius' death a few times during the play. The first of these instances can be seen when Cassius explains about some strange events during the day; “Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, why birds and beasts from quality and kind…” (Shakespeare 20). This event can be seen as supernatural because fires, ghosts, birds, and beasts are all happening on the same day and in supernatural circumstances. There have been earlier deaths in the play, which makes this event even more ominous. Another event that foreshadows the death of Cassius in a supernatural way can be seen when a bad storm occurs. “The storm is up, and all is on the hazard” (Shakespeare 93). Not only is the storm a bad storm, but Cassius' birthday is on this day. Cassius' birthday being on the day when a horrible storm hits can be perceived as supernatural. The foreshadowing of his death can be seen in the fact that he is going into battle, on his birthday, when a bad storm hits. As you can see, Cassius' death is foreshadowed constantly in this play.
Brutus' death can be seen foreshadowed continuously throughout the play. The first of these events, when the Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus, the Ghost of Caesar states, “To tell the thou shalt see me at Philippi” (Shakespeare 87). The Ghost of Caesar came to tell Brutus to expect him at Philippi. This can be considered a supernatural event because ghosts are not a natural thing. This event foreshadows Brutus' death because Romans usually did not get approached by ghosts telling them that they will see them on a daily basis, if at all. Another supernatural event foreshadowing Brutus' death, when Brutus speaks amongst his comrades at Philippi, he tells them about the Ghost of Caesar appearing to him: “The Ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me two several times by night; at Sardis once, and this last night here in Philippi fields. I know my hour is come” (Shakespeare 102). Brutus admits that he knows he will die this day, thus this foreshadows his death. The supernatural aspect of this event will be the Ghost of Caesar appearing, since he has now appeared twice to Brutus, which would be an unlikely occurrence in Roman times. Brutus' eventual death came as no surprise to the audience as it was constantly foreshadowed throughout the play.
In conclusion, the deaths of Caesar, Brutus, and Cassius were not surprises in the least. All of their deaths were continuously foreshadowed during the play with the use of supernatural events. Shakespeare used these supernatural events creatively and not too sparingly so the audience would not be fooled. Thusly Shakespeare was a smart playwright.
