The role of women in Ancient Rome is reflected perfectly through Calpurnia and Portia in Ancient Rome history. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Portia and Calpurnia, the only women roles in the play, display a woman’s role in Ancient Rome of women being inferior to their husbands and under their authority.
In Act II Scene I, Brutus leaves his bed at night to join Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, Trebonius, and Cassius on a conspiracy plan. His wife, Portia becomes worried. She does not know what is going on but curiously wants to know. She is worried about her husband because she can tell something has been going on with him. However, he still refuses to tell her, even as much as she urges him to. Women were to respect their husbands and under his authority she was not obligated to force him to tell her what is going on. This is exhibited in scene 2 when Portia said, “Nor for yours either. Y’ have urgently, Brutus, stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper you suddenly arose and walked about musing and sighing, with your arm across and when I asked you what the matter was you stared upon me with ungentle looks” (II.i.237-242) This statement relates the fact of women not having control on their husband’s actions because just as Brutus left from the bed a women could not do so and also as Portia asked Brutus what was the matter he sighed, fussed, and looked at her harshly. He didn’t tell her anything, because he wasn’t obligated to do so.
Portia urges Brutus to tell her the matters in which are causing him to be down. She is worried and wants to know why he will not tell her. Brutus becomes frustrated from the curiosity of his wife as she pressures him to know the issue. He doesn’t want her to know but she really wants to know. She finally accepted his refusal, but even though he still didn’t tell her. In scene 2, Brutus still is refusing to tell Portia the issue so