CASCA: A common slave—you know him well by sight— Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined; an
d yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. . . . And there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformèd with their fear, who swore they saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noonday upon the market-place, Hooting and shrieking. . . . For I believe they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon. What is the meaning of the symbol “the bird of night” as indicated in the excerpt above? The night bird is a caged animal roaming free, symbolizing the conspirators wanting to roam free as well. The night bird is shrieking, symbolizing a warning to Caesar. The night bird appears at noon, symbolizing that Rome has a darkness hanging over it. The night bird symbolizes the hope that light will dispel the darkness of Rome.
Answer: The night bird appears at noon, symbolizing that Rome has a darkness hanging over it.
In this excerpt, we learn of several bad omens that Casca has been witness to. One of the omens he describes is the fact that a night bird appeared in the market-place at noon. Not only is this a strange occurrence, but the fact that the bird appears at noon symbolizes that Rome has a darkness hanging over it.
