Julius Caesar: Solo/Duet Performance Assessment

The scene opens in Caesar's house. It is a stormy night and Calphurnia has dreamed of Caesar's murder. She tries to persuade him not to leave the house that day. Caesar will not be persuaded, so she recounts some of the strange things that have been seen by the night watch. But Caesar still insists he will not change his plans.

This scene further reveals Caesar's character. He thinks of himself as courageous and fearless. However, he is also aware of the power of public opinion, since the one thing that persuades him to go to the Capitol is not that the senators expect him to, but because if he does not go, he may be thought of as fearful.

Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 8-37
Duet with Yoodam Son

Calphurnia:
What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.

Caesar:
Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesae, they are vanished.

Calphurnia:
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
Fierce, fiery warriors fought in the clouds in the usual formations of war-ranks and
squadrons-until the clouds drizzled blood onto
the Capitol. The noise of battle filled the air, and horses neighed, and dying men groaned, and
ghosts shrieked and squealed in the streets.
Oh, Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

Caesar:
What can be avoided
Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.

Calpurnia:
When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

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 strang that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.