William Shakespeare entitled his play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar even though Julius Caesar is killed in Act III, barely half way through the play. Caesar is stabbed by his conspirators but still continues to influence events and outcomes throughout the play.
             Julius Caesar first reveals himself as a ghost to the lead conspirator Brutus in act IV, scene iii, and lines 274-285. The spirit represents Brutus' guilty conscience and makes known that "...thou shalt see me at Philippi" Brutus consequently takes that statement to heart and decides to march into battle at Philippi.
             In act V, scene iii, and lines 45-46 Cassius says these words before being stabbed "Guide thou the sword-Caesar, thou art revenged, Even with the sword that kill'd thee." That statement from Cassius is stating Caesar, you are guiding the sword that killed you and you are now being revenged with the same sword that will now kill me.
             In act V, scene iii, lines 94-96, Brutus states "O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords in our own proper entrails." To understand that quote one would have to revert to Calpurnia's dream in act II, scene ii, and lines 1-29. Calpurnia's dream foretells of Caesar's stabbing and his conspirators bathing their hands within his blood. The actions of the conspirators bathing their hands in Caesar's blood in fact corresponds to the shed of their own blood with the help of Caesar's spirit who "walks abroad and turns their swords into their own proper entrails." After the battle at Philippi Brutus survives, however, Caesar has such a strong influence on Brutus that he asks his servant, Srato, to hold his sword, turn his face and allow him to run into it as acted out in act V scene v lines 43-51.
             The definition of a tragedy is "a serious play with a tragic theme, often involving a heroic struggle and the downfall of ...