In many of his histories/tragedies, Shakespeare uses omens and the supernatural to convey ideas in a way that makes the audience question the role of the supernatural. The first way he introduces this idea to the audience is through the storm in Act 1, scene 3. In Casca’s words:
But never till tonight, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction. (Julius Caesar I.iii.9-13)
Clearly, through Casca’s description, Shakespeare conveys the idea that this is no ordinary storm. During the storm, Cassius discusses with Casca his contempt for the thunder, which is a traditional representation of the power of the Gods, solidifying the idea that the storm is much more than a normal rain shower. The storm symbolizes the growing conspiracy against Caesar and his supposed evil, and by including the Gods, plants the idea of some higher power controlling the fate of Caesar.
During the same storm, Casca sees three interesting omens; a man on fire but not burning, a lion on the capitol steps not harassing people, and an owl screeching at midday. Both the lion and the owl are out of their natural habitats, and are acting in an inconsistent manner compared to their normal archetype. The man on fire is perhaps the most interesting, as it is an allusion to the Gods giving Prometheus the gift of fire, and shows the influence of the Gods early on in the play. All three of these omens represent an upset in the natural balance, and demonstrate the inclusion of divine power on the lives of the people of Rome, and Caesar in particular.
But never till tonight, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction. (Julius Caesar I.iii.9-13)
Clearly, through Casca’s description, Shakespeare conveys the idea that this is no ordinary storm. During the storm, Cassius discusses with Casca his contempt for the thunder, which is a traditional representation of the power of the Gods, solidifying the idea that the storm is much more than a normal rain shower. The storm symbolizes the growing conspiracy against Caesar and his supposed evil, and by including the Gods, plants the idea of some higher power controlling the fate of Caesar.
During the same storm, Casca sees three interesting omens; a man on fire but not burning, a lion on the capitol steps not harassing people, and an owl screeching at midday. Both the lion and the owl are out of their natural habitats, and are acting in an inconsistent manner compared to their normal archetype. The man on fire is perhaps the most interesting, as it is an allusion to the Gods giving Prometheus the gift of fire, and shows the influence of the Gods early on in the play. All three of these omens represent an upset in the natural balance, and demonstrate the inclusion of divine power on the lives of the people of Rome, and Caesar in particular.
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