Question

character sketch of calpurnia

Answer 1

Calphurnia ably fulfills the role of an aristocratic wife in Roman society. She's unfailingly loyal, faithful, and (most importantly of all) above suspicion. In keeping with the prevailing social norms, she has no real life of her own, living out her existence through her husband. Calphurnia loves Caesar and wants to do everything she can to protect him. That's why she's so unnerved by the terrible nightmares she has leading up to the Ides of March.

In one of these nightmares, a smiling mob of plebeians merrily bathes its hands in a blood-spurting fountain. Calphurnia interprets this dream as a bad omen and pleads with her husband not to go to the Senate. But Caesar brushes off Calphurnia's concerns, especially after Decius arrives and offers his own positive spin on the dream. One suspects that if it had been a man who'd had that nightmare, then Caesar would not have set foot outside the house that fateful morning. Caesar's curt dismissal of his wife's concerns illustrates the subordinate position of women in Roman society.

Answer 2

Calpurnia

Calpurnia was a loving, caring, and sincere wife. She was exceedingly anxious about Caesar’s welfare. She seemed to have great powers. She had the power to look into future. She saw in her dream the imminent assassination of Caesar. She tried her best to avert the tragedy of Caesar’s assassination, but the over-confidence in his abilities proved fatal for Caesar. If he had listened to Calpurnia’s advice, he would not have been assassinated.