The idea of wilderness is definitely in play here, but let's not overdo the criticism of 18th-century people for not having 21st-century environmental values.

The play Julius Caesar had its inspirations in the real life assassination of Julius Caesar and events that followed after. William Shakespeare drew its characters from real people who lived in that time era. However, Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44BC, while Artemidorus lived around 200AD. Artemidorus is an anachronism, which is something that belongs to a different time period.

In this scene, Artemidorus attempts to change the inevitable; The assassination of Caesar. Shakespeare’s use of anachronism indicates that there is no place for one to change the events that will follow, and that the assassination of Caesar is inescapable.

Shakespeare uses this to carry the idea that with great power, others’ jealousy will come inevitably. In fact, in this scene, Artemidorus laments that “My heart laments that virtue cannot live out of the teeth of emulation.” This reaffirms the core idea in this scene: That people will always be envious and plot against those better than them, even virtuous men such as Caesar.

Whether intentional or not, the clock is an example of an anachronism. This technique is the inclusion of something that appears to be in the wrong time, used as a device or simply a literary mistake.

Cassius claims that "the clock hath stricken three", signifying the end of the conspirators' meeting about the upcoming assassination. In the Roman era, mechanical clocks were not invented, and the time was told by much more primitive methods.

This anachronism may have been included as subtle humour, or is more symbolic; it may possibly reference the impending 'strike' on Caesar's reign. Furthermore, the motion of the clock is more dramatic than telling time with a sundial etc.

Shakespeare's use of anachronisms throughout Julius Caesar is most likely intentional, but nevertheless it enhances the drama of the conspirator's conversation.