Some critics believed that Shakespeare had a regular belief in Supernatural elements but some gave their view that it was just a creation of the disturbed mind of Shakespeare. Shakespeare has introduced the supernatural into the play Julius Caesar to achieve a greater dramatic effect and because of the general beliefs in superstition among the Elizabethan people.
Fairies, ghosts, goblins and other supernatural are a common appearance in the plays of Shakespeare. Julius Caesar is not an exception. We have viewed many supernatural throughout the play Julius Caesar; some are direct while the others are indirect. These supernatural adds an element of mystery to the drama.
Caesar's ghost was seen by Brutus twice; once at Sardis in his tent and later at the battlefield of Phillipi. The ghost might be a product or imagination of the disturbed mind of Brutus. First of all, he heard the death of his beloved wife Portia, Secondly he understood the mistake he made by killing Julius Caesar and lastly due the quarrel he had with Cassius. It might also be natural the Brutus has seen the ghost of Julius Caesar. At Phillipi his mind was disturbed due to the verge of defeat.
Apart from the ghost of Caesar, there are other supernatural elements too; these are in the form of omens alarms and various other ways.
• A soothsayer warns Caesar to beware of March.
• The storm scene in Act I, Scene iii is a prediction of an unnatural happening followed by the strange sights of a slave with a flaming hand and which does not scorch, men all in fire walking down the streets, a lioness giving birth in the streets and hooting and shrieking of the owl near the Capitol at noon time.
• Calphurnia of fiery warriors fighting among the clouds in the proper rank of military which rained blood on the capitol and the dead men coming out of their graves. She also saw in her dream a statue of Caesar through which blood was coming out through hundreds of sprouts and some Romans washed their hand in it.
• There was sacrifice of animal ordered by Caesar and in it no heart can be found by the augurers; an unnatural thing.
• While marching towards Philippi, Cassius saw instead of the usual stock of eagles; kites and ravens have replaced them which were known as the 'Bird of Death'.
• Another referral was to the suicide of Portia, Brutus's wife by swallowing hot coals; another reference to fire.
Conclusion
The use of supernatural in the play Julius Caesar is very effective and significant in many ways. First of all it reflects the taste and belief of the Elizabethans. Secondly, the supernatural helps us to understand the characters better. Various characters are affected differently by these supernaturals. In no other play of Shakespeare we can observe the uses of Supernaturals so prominently like in Julius Caesar. Thirdly, it brings forth the real character of the Romans and their regular beliefs in supernaturals.