1. The Role of Women in Julius
Caesar
Anirudh Iyer
2. The Women
• The amount of female characters in the play
Julius Caesar is sparse, namely two, Portia and
Calpurnia.
• The attribute of having a small number of
female characters compared to male
characters is common in Shakespeare's plays
3. • However the short areas of the play where
these women are shown are critical to the
plays development.
• The heinous crime committed in this play was
due to the external information the
conspirators receive.
4. • One could ask themselves how would the plot
have changed if women were given a bit more
dominance.
• Portia and Calpurnia could have easily
convinced their husbands otherwise most of
the plot wouldn’t have occurred.
5. • The reason women are portrayed somewhat
inferior to the men is not because of how they
appeared in roman times.
• But because of the attitude to women in the
time when Shakespeare wrote the play. The
Elizabethan Era
6. The Elizabethan Era
• The Elizabethan Era was the time when
England was ruled by queen Elizabeth. At this
time there were extremely sexist views
towards women.
7. Elizabethan Women
• Elizabethan women were tutored at home - there were no
schools for girls
• Elizabethan women were not allowed to enter University
• Elizabethan women could not be heirs to their father's titles (
except female royals)
• Elizabethan women could not become Doctors or Lawyers
• Elizabethan women did not have the vote and were not
allowed to enter politics
• There were no Elizabethan women in the Army or Navy
• Elizabethan women were not allowed to act in the theatres
8. Portia
• Portia is the daughter of a famous roman
general who we know opposed Caesar.
• She is also Brutus’s wife and is considered his
backbone and is extremely loyal to him.
9. • She is different to Elizabethan women as even
though she doesn’t have power, she voices
her opinions strongly and is sure about what is
right and wrong.
• She is so loyal to her husband that when she
realizes that he has fallen from power, she kills
herself painfully.
10. Calpurnia
• Calpurnia makes a very brief appearance but
her role is very important as it allows the
viewer to finally have an insight into Caesar’s
private life. (It is in fact the only time he is
pictured in nightclothes)
• It shows us that Calpurnia understands
Caesar’s true nature for her to correctly
interpret the omens.
11. • Caesar’s appearance in this scene is a huge
contrast to the Caesar we have seen and
heard about.
• He seems a worried and anxious husband who
is ready to please her initially.
• Calpurnia also represents the fear and
superstitious beliefs of the Elizabethan
audience
12. Women of today
• Women today have a lot more freedom and
are not restricted to anything.
• It is common to find that the woman is the
chief earner of the family while the man takes
care of other duties.
13. • They have the right to speak their mind and
implement any idea they want to.
• Women commonly are presidents and heads
of state.
14. • Between Portia and Calpurnia, Portia best
resembles a women of today.
• She is strong and willing to speak her mind
and won’t let anything come in her way.
• However her loyalty to her husband is a trait
not commonly found nowadays.
15. Conclusion
• Time has passed since the Elizabethan era, but
Shakespeare has managed to create such
timeless female leads each with their own
distinct personality who have influenced the plot
greatly even due to their lack of time on screen
