William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar focuses on the debate whether or not man is linked to a destiny predestined by a divine force hidden among the stars or to a destiny controlled by his own actions. Drawing on Sir Thomas North's historical accounts of Plutarch, Shakespeare describes the play's characters as believing that fate is controlled by the divine, as indicated through portents or omens, Roman values, or human decision alone. However, Shakespeare ultimately argues that the decisive actions of human beings, both good and bad, are what ultimately shape history and therefore destiny. Through the use of Plutarch's writings, Shakespeare develops the life and death of Julius Caesar into a tragedy brought about through no fault Calphurnia in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, based on Plutarch's account of her having a nightmare in which "Caesar was killed and that she had trapped him." her arms (“Sources” 107),” fears for her husband's life due to these superstitious occurrences and states “O Caesar, these things are useless, / And I fear them (2.2.25-26).” Rather than being supportive of these superstitions and therefore believing that fate is determined by the Gods, Calphurnia's fear and numerous mentions of her physical weakness (1.2.9-11) and stupidity (2.2.110) within the works discredit the validity of this superstition. portents and omens. With these signs devalued, Shakespeare argues that it is only the decisions of men that determine their fate, and the errors of these decisions leading to Shakespeare's impending portrayal of Cassius, based on the historical description of Plutarch as a "choleric man" that "even from his cradle appearance he could not tolerate any kind of tyrant (“Sources” 115).” It is not through divine power that men begin to conspire against Caesar, but it is through Cassius' decision to use the power of rhetoric to persuade men, especially Brutus, to conspire against Caesar. According to Cassius in the play, “The Men ad at a certain point they are masters of their destiny. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not of our stars / But of ourselves, who are subordinate (1.2.139-141).” Through careful and strategic planning Cassius manages to persuade Brutus, a man who "for his virtue and valor, was much loved by the people ("Sources" 120)", to conspire and act after Caesar's death as well that men control their own destiny by stating, in response to omens and portents, “Danger knows full well / That Caesar is more dangerous than he (2.2.44-45).” Through this quote, Caesar presents his belief that he has the ability to overcome a superstitious fate. Therefore, he ignores all signs and omens and thus determines his fate through an action that would seal his death. Shakespeare makes it clear that it was only the free will of these men to shape history into the tragedy it became. It wasn't