April 13, 2010

Julius Caesar: The Character List


Let us look at the characters in the play.


Julius Caesar

The titular character which is the only man that is powerful to dole out orders.They must be carried out. Stubbornly resisting the many signs that foreshadows him, he is is killed by a conspiracy led by Cassius and Brutus. His ghost haunts the remainder of the play, and his name is invoked by both Cassius and Brutus before they commit suicide in the final act.

Calpurnia

Caesar's wife. She is barren and as such Caesar does not have an heir. She has a dream in which she sees a statue of Caesar bleeding from multiple wounds, and begs him to stay at home the day he is killed. Caesar ignores her and goes to the Senate House anyway and met his fate at the hands of conspirators.

Marcus Brutus

A nobleman of Rome opposed to Caesar. He is an idealist who upholds  his own brand of  'Roman honor' above everything else. Brutus only agrees to kill Caesar after being tricked. His lofty ideals for killing Jesus is purportedly to save the Roman Republic. He dies on the battlefield by impaling himself on his own sword as he cannot face the Roman people in punishment.

Portia

The stout hearted wife of Brutus. She proves her bravery and  strength or [is it reckless bravado] by stabbing her thigh with a dagger in order to convince Brutus to confide in her his plot to kill Caesar. She kills herself by swallowing hot coals from the fire after Mark Antony and Octavius assume power in Rome.

Lucius

He is a man servant to Brutus.

Caius Cassius

This is another Roman who opposed  Caesar. He assembles the conspirators and is the man who tricks Brutus to kill Caesar. He commits suicide at the battle of Philippi after falsely thinking his army has been defeated.

Casca

Another Roman opposed to Caesar.

Trebonius

A  man opposed to Caesar.

Decius Brutus

A man opposed to Caesar. He misinterprets Calpurnia's dream in order to convince Caesar to go to the Senate House on the ides of March.

Metellus Cimber

A man opposed to Caesar.

Cinna

A man opposed to Caesar.

Ligarius

A man opposed to Caesar

Mark Antony

A ruler of Rome after Caesar's death. Antony is Caesar's friend from the beginning and he gives a rousing speech to the masses which causes riots in Rome. Brutus and Cassius are chased out of the city in the ensuing chaos, and Antony forms the second triumvirate with Octavius and Lepidus.

Octavius Caesar

A ruler of Rome after Caesar's death. Octavius is a young general who joins the second triumvirate. He and Antony fight against Brutus and Cassiu. He historically becomes the future emperor of Rome.

Lepidus

A ruler of Rome after Caesar's death.

Flavius

A tribune of the people. He is removed from office after derobing the statues of Caesar.

Murellus

A tribune of the people. He is removed from office after derobing the statues of Caesar.

Cicero

A senator. He tells Casca that men construe omens the way they want to. He is later killed by Antony and Octavius when they purge the Senate.

Publius

A senator.

Popillius Laena

A senator.

A Soothsayer

A man who tells Caesar to beware the ides of March (March 15) but who is ignored.

Artemidorus

A man who tries to give Caesar a letter in which he describes the plot against him. Caesar ignores his letter.

Cinna the Poet

A poet who is beaten and possibly killed because he has the same name as one of the conspirators.

Pindarus

The bondsman to Cassius.

Titinius

An officer in Cassius' army. He kills himself when he finds Cassius dead on the battlefield.

Lucillius

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Messala

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Varrus

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Claudio

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Young Cato

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Strato

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Volumnius

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Dardanius

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

Clitus

An officer and soldier in Brutus' army.

A Poet

A man who bursts into Brutus' tent and tries to warn the army that Brutus and Cassius are angry with each other. Brutus orders him to be taken away.

The Ghost of Caesar

A ghost of Julius Caesar who speaks to Brutus at Sardis.

A Cobbler

A Carpenter

Plebeians

Commoners

A Messenger

Servants, senators, soldiers, and attendants

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