William Shakespeare contributed many great works to the history of literature, two of which include Macbeth and Julius Caesar. Macbeth tells the story of an ambitious lord, Macbeth, who becomes corrupt after killing the previous king and many of his friends. Similarly, in Julius Caesar, the conspirators kill Rome's hero, Julius Caesar, due to their fear and jealousy of his growing power. Both stories feature female characters who advance the plot and/or foreshadow future events. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, takes part in the murder of King Duncan and Portia, Brutus' wife, and Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, due to their concerns for their husbands, they both try to deal with them in their own ways. William Shakespeare structures the women in his work very differently from the women of his time. There are many differences between Lady Macbeth, Calpurnia and Portia, but at the same time there are also many similarities between the three. Lady Macbeth from the beginning of the play seems remarkably similar to Portia in that they are both strong-willed. women ahead of their time unlike Calpurnia. Lady Macbeth longs to be a man: "Come, ye spirits that entertain mortal thoughts, strip me here, and fill me from head to toe with the most atrocious cruelty..." (Macbeth 1.5.30-44). Lady Macbeth is very different from the typical woman of the time. His attention is now turned to the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth's true personality begins to reveal itself through this quote; instead of being a kind and loving woman, her character seems vile and demonic. It is clear that she is determined to make Macbeth's prophecy come true by any means necessary. His helpfulness in this matter is another reason for his strength... mid-card... the only reason was his fear for his safety and well-being. She is described as a very kind and caring person; the exact opposite of Lady Macbeth's ambitious personality. Although they are all great women, Portia and Calpurnia are portrayed as kind and gentle women while Lady Macbeth is portrayed as masculine and immoral. Lady Macbeth, Calpurnia and Portia are all great female characters in Shakespeare's works. The characters all appear in different works in different settings and situations, but have many similar qualities as well as different qualities. Calpurnia, who has a shy and obedient nature, sets her apart from Lady Macbeth and Portia. Lady Macbeth and Portia are very similar in the sense that they are both great women who have lost their sense of reason to the point of committing suicide. They also represent a very important issue throughout society.