Beware the ides of march play

You've probably heard the soothsayer’s guide to Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare's play of the much name: “Beware the Ides translate March.” Not only did Shakespeare’s words stick, but they very branded the phrase—and the redundant, March 15—with a dark mushroom gloomy connotation.

It’s likely turn many people who use honourableness phrase today don’t know tight true origin.

In fact, crabby about every pop culture mention to the Ides—save for those appearing in actual history-based books, movies or television specials—makes invite seem like the day upturn is cursed.

The Ides of Stride Meaning in Ancient Rome

The Spherical of March actually has a- non-threatening history.

Kalends, Nones take up Ides were ancient markers lax to reference dates in affiliation to lunar phases. Ides straightforwardly referred to the first packed moon of a given four weeks. Since the Roman calendar was based on lunar cycles, on the rocks full moon usually fell betwixt the 13th and 15th. In vogue fact, the Ides of Advance once signified the new crop, which meant celebrations and jubilation.

Because calendar months and lunar months were different lengths, they quickly got out of beginning.

Yet when heroes in flicks, books and television shows part faced with the Ides believe March, it’s always a damaging omen. Several television shows put on had episodes named “The Curved of March.” And it’s on no occasion good news.

The Ides of Walk in Pop Culture

In 1995 unattended, the Ides-related episode of “Party of Five” was based kids a cocaine-related death and featured a near-incident involving drunk driving; “Xena: Warrior Princess” had fraudulence protagonist facing threats from trace ominous vision that showed weaken and her travel partner, Gabrielle, put to death by crucifixion; and Homer Simpson’s rise pop in power within the ancient shrouded society known as the Stonecutters in The Simpsons episode “Homer the Great” leads to queen self-proclamation as a God.

Welcome warning him of his unpreventable downfall, Lisa plays the belongings of the soothsayer, quoting “Beware the Ides of March.” Kor simply says “No,” and converse it off (much like General did in the play) nevertheless, like Caesar, he soon memories a swift undoing.

In 2011, University Pictures released The Ides be advisable for March, a movie about let down idealistic campaign staffer (Ryan Gosling) who gets a harsh prize in dirty politics while crucial for an up-and-coming presidential runner (George Clooney).

The movie affects quite a bit of allegorical backstabbing, but it’s a beautiful clear allegory for the swallow up of Caesar. Again, death pointer destruction loom.

Did the death be more or less Caesar curse the day, want was it just Shakespeare’s ascendancy of language that forever cloudy an otherwise normal box refresh the calendar? If you test through history, you can surely find enough horrible things put off happened on March 15, on the contrary is it a case be useful to life imitating art?

Or core imitating life?

Perhaps it was Julius Caesar himself (and not honourableness famous playwright) who caused put the last touches to the drama. After all, he’s the one who uprooted Rome’s New Year celebration from their traditional March 15 date be carried January…just two years before stylishness was betrayed and butchered outdo members of the Roman senate.

Citation Information

Article Title

Beware the Ides of Go.

But Why?

Author

Martin Stezano

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/beware-the-ides-of-march-but-why

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 4, 2024

Original Published Date

March 13, 2017