Portia in Julius Caesar - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 711 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/03/26 Category History Essay Level High school Topics: Julius Caesar Essay Did you like this example? In William Shakespeares play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the character Portia, second wife to Brutus, seemed to be one of the most burdened with secrets. There were only two women in the play, and Portia was the one who proved strength over most of the male characters, both physically and mentally. Portia was born between 73 BC and 64 BC and loved philosophy and had an obvious understanding of courage (Wikipedia.org). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Portia in Julius Caesar" essay for you Create order Portia was the only wife in the play who knew about the plot to kill Caesar. Brutus divorced his first wife, Claudia Pulchra, to marry Portia. Brutuss mother, Servilia, was jealous of Brutuss love for Portia (Wikipedia.org). Every character in this play intertwines as a soap opera would. Most marriages were for political reasons and arranged, but Portia and Brutus married for love. Portia represents a woman who sees herself as strong as a man and tries to prove her strength throughout the play, (Wikipedia.org). When Brutus refuses to tell her secrets saying she would not be strong enough to handle such things, Portia stabs herself in the leg. This is her effort to not only prove her pain can be hidden, but she can also keep a secret. This symbolizes her strength and loyalty. Men are usually seen as the violent characters in the play. Portia shows more self-inflicting pain than any other character. Shes torn before Caesars murder, because she knew about the murder plot. She may have been the powerful one who could have prevented Caesars assassination, if she had told someone or warned Caesar. Her loyalty to Brutus may have also been the death of her. Although shes dead by Chapter IV, Portia still plays a huge part in this chapter, as far as showing Brutuss character. Portia only appears in the entire play a few times, but her role plays a huge significance. Brutus mentions Portia, during his conversation with Cassius as they prepare for their final battle. Brutus shows his own conflicting feelings about his role in Caesars death and his guilt for also contributing to Portias suicide (Shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar). Bru tus says, No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead when explaining to Cassius how Portia was stronger than any man, but she was now dead from swallowing the hot coals. In Act 4: Scene 3: Brutuss tent, Cassius asks Brutus during their emotional conversation, how Portia died, Of what illness? (Shakespeare.mit.edu/julius_caesar). Brutus replies blaming himself for being absent during Portias grief, blaming himself for her suicide. During this conversation, Brutus tells Cassius to get him bowl of wine, so he can bury all unkindness or unwanted feelings. (Shakespeare.mit.edu). Brutus acts completely different when he speaks to Cassius in private. Brutus is a completely different man when in the public eye. Many historians argue about the exact timing of Portias suicide. Contemporary and modern historians also argue whether she actually swallowed hot coals or died of carbon monoxide poisoning (Wikipedia.org). Contemporary historians believe she killed herself after hearing Brutus died following the second battle of Philippi and modern believe she may have died from the plague (Wikipedia.org). By reading Shakespeares play, it is seems as if Portia died from grief. She was torn the day of Caesars assassination, knowing her husband was involved, but could not be comforted. She had to keep these worries to herself. Portias role in the play represents the deep pain and sorrow inside of Brutuss conscious by the end of the play, (Shakespeare.mit.edu). Portia, being a woman, was not trusted to keep the plot to kill Caesar silent. To prove her loyalty to silence, she inflicted a wound upon her thigh with a barbers knife. She left the wound untreated for over a day (Wikipedia.org). Feeling the pain of her wounded leg in silence. She used this example to prove she could endure physical and emotional pain, while keeping her secrets to herself. She could keep this secret from her husband, Brutus (Wikipedia.org). Portias loyalty to her husband is proven over and over throughout the play. She has so much anxiety the day of Caesars assissination, she faints. She worries about her and sen ds messengers to mahusbanke sure hes still alive (Shakespeare.mit.edu).