Calpurnia was actually Julius Caesar's third wife and she survived him. There are no accounts of her dying before the events of Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar' or of her death by natural causes. Calpurnia's warning to Caesar about her foreboding dream is well-documented historically.
The student's question pertains to information that is incorrect. Contrary to the student's assertion, Calpurnia was not Caesar's first wife, but rather his third. Calpurnia was the daughter of Piso and was married to Julius Caesar at the time of his assassination in 44 BCE, which takes place during the events of Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.
Calpurnia is historically known for her dream which foresaw Caesar's death, and she tried to warn him not to go to the Senate on the Ides of March. The play does not detail her death, and there are no historical accounts that mention Calpurnia dying prior to the play's opening or dying from natural causes. In fact, historical texts indicate she survived Caesar and no record suggests how or when she died.
The confusion may arise from the fact that there were other significant women in the lives of Julius Caesar and his allies, as illustrated by the provided references to Pompey and his wives, or other powerful women of the period, like Cleopatra. Each had dramatic impacts on the political landscape of Rome and played distinct roles in its history. These women's stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the complex personal and political relationships of ancient Rome, as chronicled by historians like Plutarch and poets like Horace.
The probable question may be:
What is the historical context of Calpurnia's relationship with Julius Caesar, and how does it differ from the portrayal in Shakespeare's play 'Julius Caesar'?