Caesar Slaughtered by Senators
By Michelle Cunningham
March 15, ROME- Julius Caesar was brutally stabbed by many senators yesterday morning inside the Capitol.
A soothsayer warned Caesar, “Beware the ides of March” (Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Act I, Scene 2, line 21) a few days previous to the attack at the Lupercalia celebration. Lupercalia is a festival celebrating health and fertility.
When the ides of March arrived, Caesar ordered a priest to read the entrails of a bull to predict Caesar’s future. The bull had no heart, which Caesar interpreted as being cowardice for not going to the Capitol. Upon hearing this news, Caesar decided to go to the Senate instead of staying home with his wife, Calphurnia, like he was planning to.
One of Caesar’s servants overheard Caesar say, “She dreamt tonight she saw my statue/ Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts/ Did run pure blood…” (Act II, Scene 2, lines 81-83). Calphurnia wanted him to stay home because she dreamed that her husband’s statue was spouting out blood with many citizens smiling as they bathed in it. Decius convinced Caesar the dream actually signified that Caesar will provide Rome with sustaining blood by saying “…signifies that from you great Rome shall suck/Reviving blood…” (Act II, Scene 2, lines 92-93). Decius also convinced Caesar that the men of Rome would try to get a token of his approval from his holy blood. Convinced, Caesar headed off to the Capitol.
Artemidorus was spotted as he waited for Caesar in the streets in front of the Capitol to give Caesar a letter warning him about the conspiracy. Caesar ignored Artemidorus, and headed straight into the Capitol.
According to a senator who whishes to stay anonymous, once inside the Capitol, the senators gathered around Caesar as they spoke about letting Metellus’s cousin back into Rome. With everyone near, Casca drew his sword and gave Caesar the first stab. Everyone followed suite. Brutus gave Caesar his final wound. Some of Caesar’s last words were, “et tu, Brutè?” (Act III, Scene 1, line 85). Caesar then dropped to the ground next to the former leader Pompey’s statue. The senators all bathed their hands in Caesar’s blood to celebrate their deed.
The funeral will be held later this afternoon.