Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

CAESAR - Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

1. What are Caesar’s views about death? How does Shakespeare use the literary device ‘paradox’ here? (Understanding & Application)
2. What was the outcome of the sacrifice made by the priest? How does Caesar interpret this? (Understanding & Analysis)
3. What does Caesar say about danger and himself being murdered on the same day? (Recalling & Understanding)
4. Why does Calpurnia take the responsibility on herself for Caesar not going to the Capitol? How does she portray her submissiveness? (Analysis)
5. Who enters soon after? How does the person use flattery to change the mind of Caesar? What is his interpretation of Calpurnia’s dream? (Recalling & Analysis)

Answer 1

1. Caesar believes that death is unavoidable and should not be feared. The paradox lies in ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths’, because a person can physically die only once. Shakespeare means that cowards suffer the fear of death repeatedly, while the brave face death only when it actually comes.
2. The priests find that the sacrificed animal has no heart, which is considered a bad omen. Caesar, however, interprets it proudly and says that the gods would make him ‘heartless’ if he stayed at home out of fear.
3. Caesar says that ‘Danger knows full well/That Caesar is more dangerous than he’. He boasts that he and Danger were born on the same day, but Caesar is the elder and more terrible of the two.
4. Calpurnia asks Caesar to stay at home and says that the blame for his absence may fall on her. Her submissiveness is shown when she pleads with him, kneels before him, and asks him to say that it is her fear, not his own, that keeps him away.
5. Decius Brutus enters soon after. He flatters Caesar by appealing to his pride and fear of appearing weak before the senators. He interprets Calpurnia’s dream positively, saying that Caesar’s statue pouring blood signifies that Rome will draw strength and life from him, and that great men will seek honour through Caesar.