How does Decius Brutus interpret Calpurnia's dream?

This is from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where Decius Brutus reinterprets Calpurnia's ominous dream to persuade Caesar to attend the Senate, concealing the real assassination plot.

Concept

• Calpurnia dreamt that Caesar's statue spouted blood from a hundred wounds like a fountain, and that many Romans came and bathed their hands in it — she read this as a warning of danger.
• Decius flatters Caesar by twisting the meaning: he claims the blood symbolises Rome drawing strength, life, and 'reviving blood' from Caesar, and that great men will seek relics and favours from him — presenting it as a sign of good fortune, not death.

Common mistakes

• Students often write only 'he gave a false meaning' without explaining the flattering content itself (reviving blood/Rome nourished by Caesar) — this key detail is needed for full marks.
• Do not confuse Decius's flattering interpretation with the TRUE meaning of the dream, which actually foreshadows Caesar's murder.

Real-world

• This scene is a classic example of manipulation through flattery — reinterpreting a bad sign as a good omen to serve a hidden agenda, a persuasion tactic still seen in politics today.