These signs have marked me extraordinary, and all the courses of my life do show I am not in the roll of common men

These signs have marked me extraordinary, and all the courses of my life do show I am not in the roll of common men

William Shakespeare, often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history, wrote these words in his play "Julius Caesar." The character speaking these lines is Cassius, a Roman senator who is trying to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Cassius is attempting to appeal to Brutus's sense of pride and honor by suggesting that he is destined for greatness and not meant to be a common man.

In the context of Shakespeare's own life and work, these words could be seen as a reflection of his own ambition and belief in his own talent. Shakespeare was not born into nobility or wealth, but he rose to prominence through his writing and became one of the most celebrated playwrights of his time. His works have stood the test of time and continue to be performed and studied around the world.

Shakespeare's plays are filled with characters who are larger than life, who struggle with their own ambitions and desires, and who often find themselves at odds with the expectations of society. In many ways, Shakespeare himself could be seen as a character in his own plays, grappling with his own sense of destiny and purpose.

The line "These signs have marked me extraordinary, and all the courses of my life do show I am not in the roll of common men" could be interpreted as Shakespeare's own declaration of his uniqueness and talent. He was not content to be just another playwright, but sought to push the boundaries of the art form and create works that would stand the test of time.