Portia

posted 13 years ago by DodgersRule
6 replies | jump to latest

I wasn't overly clear on one point.
Did Portia take her own life or was she murdered by "the crowd?
OR was she executed by Mark Anthony?

[–] Pipeman_Toronto 13 years ago

Brutus said that when none of her attendants was with her, she "ate fire". What a way to go!

[–] DodgersRule 13 years ago

I thought he was being figurative.

[–] Pipeman_Toronto 13 years ago

Plutarch in his "Lives of the Romans" says that Portia swallowed burning coals.

[–] rtw416 11 years ago

Shakespeare wrote it was suicide

[–] hafabee 11 years ago

Yeah and thank goodness, death by swallowing coals would be a horrible death indeed. Better suicide than that.

[–] hafabee 11 years ago

Plutarch in his "Lives of the Romans" says that Portia swallowed burning coals.

It was probably innuendo for (or rumour blown out of proportion) her drinking poison.