Theme

Julius Caesar Theme Statements
In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare is saying that the more someone believes in fate, the more free will he or she actually has. He does this by showing several examples throughout the text. The first instance of which is showed by the Soothsayer who says, "Beware the ides of March."(1.2.23) Caesar ignores this and continues to live his life as he sees fit; Caesar does not worry about fate because he believes it will happen and he cannot change it. Shakespeare’s second example is shown when Caesar says "Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home; She dreamt tonight...knee Hath begg’d that I will stay at home today"(2.2.75). Here Caesar directly ignores the warnings his wife has laid out. Again, he believes that fate will run it’s course and that he can and should live his life fully; he wants to make the best of things while he can because he cannot change fate. A third example of Shakespeare’s meaning is seen in Cassius when he says "I know where I will wear this dagger then: Cassius from...do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Thunder still."(1.3.84). Doing this shows that Cassius believes in fate at this point and accepts it with the knowledge that his involvement will be the end of him. In doing this, he frees himself from the restrictions that superstition has placed upon him. Therefore, Shakespeare shows (through use of the characters) that believing strongly in fate does indeed give a person more free will.
By Chris Gravett.