Since today is the ides of March, I thought I would read Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar this morning. There are many things I could comment on about Julius Caesar from the opening humor of the cobbler, to the theme of Brutus as an honorable man (Brutus’s honor being what motivated him to betray Caesar, the pivot on which Mark Antony turned the crowd with his rousing speech, and the matter of the plays concluding moments), but as it is the ides of March, what better topic than foreshadowing, such as is done with the soothsayer warning Caesar of the ides of March.

Shakespeare’s plays are full of subtle hints which tell the audience what is going to be before it is, from the less than pleasing appearances of some of Shakespeare’s villains to the hope or doom flavoring the speeches of men leading troops into battle, but Julius Caesar seems particularly rich with foreshadowing as the soothsayer, oddities in the night, augurers, Artemidorus, and Calpurnia’s dream all warn Caesar away from the Capitol.

Shakespeare is not alone in the use of foreshadowing, with good reason. Foreshadowing can be used in so many good ways. If what is being foreshadowed is known by the audience, it creates an unusual combination of anticipation and remembrance; while if it is unknown, it whets the reader’s curiosity and heightens suspense. On a first reading, it provides direction and gives the reader room to ponder what might happen. On subsequent readings, it can reward the reader with "Aha, I didn’t notice that, but it was there all along" moments.

Foreshadowing, and its cousin, misdirection, can be misused. Too much pressure to look into the future makes the reader discontent with where they are in the telling. Too much anticipation can create a sense of disappointment if the anticipation is not fully realized. Too much reminder of what is going to happen can be downright annoying, and too many hints can spoil what should be surprises.

So, in honor of Caesar’s soothsayer, would you share one of your favorite instances of foreshadowing from something you’ve read (or watched) or an instance in which it has driven you crazy?