TODAY IS THE IDES OF MARCH-by Gwen Herat

Do not be afraid because we are not in Rome where the 15th March is looked upon as a day of disaster.

It is a blot in her history. Shakespeare being a Christian obviously seized such happenings from the New Testament when he wrote The Ides of March in Julius Caesar. As Jesus yielded his spirit, darkness fell across; the curtain in the Temple ripped apart. Graves opened to yield its ghosts who were seen walking in the streets. In open, a lioness whelped her cubs in the street.

When Shakespeare wrote in terms of the impending assassination of Caesar, little did he realize its impact on Good Friday that makes us Christians believe the forty days of repentance finally lead us to the month of March.

(Brutus in his orchard)

….. But it is doubtful yet,

Whether Caesar will come forth today or no:

For he is superstitious grown of late,

Quiet from the main opinion he held once

of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.

It may be these apparent prodigics.

The unaccustom’d terror of the night.

And the persuasion of his augurers,

May hold him from the Capitol today…..

(Caesar’s House)

Thunder and lightning prevail indication the horrors that await the Ides of March. Calpurnia’s instinct fore-warn Caesar after her restless night when in her dream she sees Caesar murdered. Thrice she cried out for help But Caesar has ears for her pleading.

……… Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,

Yet, now they fright me. There is one within.

Besides the things we have seen and heard,

Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.

A lioness hath whelped in the streets,

And graves have yawn’d and yielded up their dead:

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds

In ranks and squadrons and right form of war.

The noise of battle hurled in the air

Horses did neigh and dying men did groan……..

(A street before the Capitol with Caesar’s senators making their

way to the Capitol, followed by the soothsayer)

…………………. The Ides of March are come.

Aye Caesar, but not gone.

Hail Caesar, Read this schedule.

(They stab Caesar. Casca strikes the first, Brutus the last blow)

ET TU BRUTE? (Caesar falls and dies)

Mark Antony who had no part in the planned assassination of Caesar, appears immediately to appease the restless crowds that had thronged the Capitol on hearing Caesar’s death and orates one of Shakespeare’s famous dialogue delivery:-

…………… Friends, Romans countrymen. lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do live after them:

So, let it be with Caesar.

Brutus hath told you Cesar was ambitious…..

If it were so, it was a grievous fault

And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it……

SYNOPSIS On a stormy night Casius and Casca visit Brutus who must be won to the rebel party. He receives them and the other conspirators in his garden and Caesar’s murder is planned. He discusses all details. It is planned for the next morning. Portia, Brutus’s wife observers their unrest. Next day, Brutus and Cassius pick up a quarrel in their camp at Sardis. Later Brutus learns that his wife, Portia has committed suicide in Rome. Cassius believe the final battle to have been lost, orders his servant to stab him, Brutus falls on his own sword which leaves Antony to speak the epitaph over his foe :-

‘This was the noblest Roman of them all

All the conspirators save only he

Did what they did in envy of great Caesar.”