Brutus Reveals Emotions…But Only In Private

              Portia only has two short appearances in the play Julius Caesar but her presence reveals a lot about the main character, Brutus. Due to this being one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays I don’t think he truly developed Portia’s character as well as could. Portia proves to be a tragic figure in this play because of her lack of power over the situation. She has the chance to stop Brutus from killing Caesar and ultimately destroying his life but due to her position in society she is forced to remain quite.

            When Portia catches Brutus outside in the garden talking to the conspirators she wants to know the secret that burdens Brutus. Brutus holds back saying he is just sick. Portia tries to prove that she is stronger then her “sex” because she comes from a strong father and has a strong husband. She even goes as far to inflict pain on herself to prove that she will not tell his secret. Brutus ends up avoiding her request and has her find out with the rest of the citizens of Rome. The reader’s later finds out that Portia has committed suicide by swallowing hot coals. The symbolic nature of her death represents her living in silence and in her death she burns her throat to silence herself forever.

            We find out this sorrowful news two different times. I think the presentation of Portia’s death twice tries to show the different between Brutus’s private and public life. The first encounter we see Brutus talking about the death when he is alone with Cassius after their fight. In private Brutus allows his emotions to go crazy and picks a fight with Cassius to work out his aggression he has built up around his wife’s death. At this point Brutus is dealing with the decision about the state of his own life, the failure of the Roman Empire and now the sudden death of his beloved wife. Brutus seems to want to leave emotions out of the decisions he makes but at this point his emotions are now leading his decisions. He admits to Cassius the death of Portia and says how upset he really is. This private moment is very different then his public displays of emotion when he finds out from Mesalus. Mesalus enters the tent under the impression that Brutus does not know about the death. Brutus responds to Mesalus calmly and stoically. Mesalus seems impressed with the leaders ability to endure such a loss and barely be impacted.

            In the death of Portia, the audience discovers the importance that Brutus puts on his public perception. He tries to keep his private and public lives separate. If Brutus would of revealed his struggle and forget about his outward perception about the decision to kill Caesar with Portia then all the bloodshed might have never happened.