18/12/2024
The exchange between Brutus and Cassius, where Cassius says "The clock hath stricken three," contains an anachronism, as clocks in the form of mechanical timepieces did not exist in the time period depicted in Julius Caesar (44 BCE).The anachronism arises because the play is set in ancient Rome, where timekeeping was done using sundials, water clocks, or other primitive methods—not mechanical clocks with striking mechanisms.Shakespeare, writing in the late 16th century, used the image of a clock in the play to communicate the passage of time, which would have been a familiar and relatable concept for his Elizabethan audience. However, for a Roman audience, this would have been anachronistic—something out of place in the historical setting.This type of anachronism is common in Shakespeare's works, where he often included details or references that his contemporary audience would understand, even if they were historically inaccurate.
