Reading Caesar VI

Decius's blazes the Freudian path

CAESAR’s house. [Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night-gown]

CAESAR

Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? [Enter a Servant]

SERVANT

My lord?

CAESAR

Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success.

SERVANT

I will, my lord. [Exit]

• Act 2 scene 2 opens with Caesar observing that his wife, Calpurnia, has three times cried out in her sleep “Help ho! They murder Caesar!” He then sends out to the priests for auguries on success – what here is success? Is it Caesar’s success or the conspirators? Could they be one and the same?

• We will later see Caesar lie about Calpurnia’s dream: there was no mention of a statue; in fact, Calpurnia doesn’t mention her dream to Caesar, probably because she knows Caesar is not one to listen to them or to take them seriously.