Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is ambitious and shows tendencies toward tyranny. He is a strong military
and civic leader whose reforms have benefited Rome, but many senators fear he will
keep the Romans enslaved to his whims. His inflexibility, even in the face of death,
causes conflict with those who want to protect him.
Brutus
Brutus is the play's tragic hero. His moral conflicts provide the main ethical dilemma
of the play. He is manipulated by Cassius into agreeing to take part in the plot to
assassinate his friend Caesar. Brutus is the last person to participate in the attack,
and his wound is the one that finishes the act. Caesar seems hurt more by Brutus's
betrayal than by the wound itself. The play's other characters, even Brutus's enemies,
respect his loyalty and wisdom.
Cassius
Cassius is devious and cunning. His morality is primarily practical, and he makes
tough moral decisions based on whatever will lead to the best outcome for himself—killing
a leader or protecting greedy officials. He's also choleric, or easily angered. Honor
and loyalty have meaning to Cassius, though, which he shows by releasing his slave
Pindarus on the battlefield.
Antony
Antony is first shown to be a devoted follower of Caesar who has little power himself.
As the play progresses to its climax, the audience realizes that Antony has been hiding
his true skills as a speaker, tactician, and soldier. His bid for power is successful
because he's willing to undertake daring political moves. He is emotional and passionate.
Octavius
Octavius is Julius Caesar's great-nephew and is a skilled soldier. Following the assassination
he seeks vengeance for Caesar's death. Octavius doesn't have Antony's way with words
or gift for long-term planning, but he has Caesar's political acumen and respect for
ritual. With Antony and Lepidus, he forms the new triumvirate that leads Rome.
Artemidorus– A teacher of rhetoric, writes a letter to Caesar warning him about the assassination
plot, but he is rebuffed when he tries to deliver the letter.
Calphurnia– Caesar's wife, Calphurnia, tries and fails to dissuade him from visiting the Capitol
on the Ides of March.
Casca– Sarcastic and superstitious, Casca is the first of the conspirators to attack Caesar.
Cicero– A Roman senator known for his wisdom and intelligence—is killed by the triumvirate
of Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, despite the fact that he did not participate in
the conspiracy.
Cinna (conspirator)– One of the conspirators in the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar, Cinna delivers Cassius's
fake letters to Brutus.
Cinna– (poet)Cinna the poet wants to go about his business, independent of mob mentality;
however, he is killed by the townspeople when they mistake him for Cinna the conspirator.
Claudius– One of Brutus's servants and soldiers at Philippi.
Clitus– One of Brutus's servants and soldiers at Philippi, refuses to kill Brutus.
The Cobbler– Speaks to Flavius in the first scene; he seems unconcerned with the danger of Caesar's
rule.
Dardanius– One of Brutus's servants and soldiers at Philippi, refuses to kill Brutus when asked.
Decius Brutus– the manipulative conspirator who volunteers to convince Caesar to go to the Capitol.
Flavius– A tribune, or public official, who—representing a growing contingent of officials
dissatisfied with Caesar—chides the Roman plebeians for their praise of Caesar in
the opening scene and pulls the decorations off Caesar's public images.
Lepidus– A good soldier and the third member (with Antony and Octavius) of the triumvirate
that comes to power after Caesar's death.
Ligarius– A conspirator in the assassination and shares Cassius's desire to eliminate tyrants.
Lucilius– A friend of Brutus who fights alongside him at Philippi; pretending to be Brutus,
he encourages the enemy to capture him in order to let the real Brutus live.
Lucius– Brutus's reliable servant, appearing in his orchard and at the Sardis camp.
Marullus– a tribune, or public official, who points out the hypocrisy of the public's worship
of Caesar.
Messala– Brutus's friend who fights alongside him in the Battle of Philippi and reluctantly
serves Octavius after Brutus dies.
Metellus Cimber– a conspirator in the assassination, presents the first plea to Caesar, giving the
rest of the assassins their opportunity to act.
Pindarus– a devoted servant of Cassius who is freed by his master when Cassius dies.
Popilius Lena– is a senator in Rome who doesn't take part in the conspiracy but appears to support
it.
Portia– Stoic and noble Portia is Brutus's wife; distressed by the chaos in Rome, she commits
suicide in the last half of the play.
Publius– A senator and loyal friend of Julius Caesar.The SoothsayerThe Soothsayer, similar
to a prophet or fortune teller, warns Caesar to "beware the Ides of March" in the
first and third acts.
Strato– A soldier in Brutus's army and the only one to accept Brutus's request to kill him;
he is with Brutus at his death.
Titinius– A servant of Cassius and a soldier in the Battle of Philippi—is at the center of a
tragic misunderstanding that affects the story's outcome.
Trebonius– A conspirator in the assassination.
Varro– One of Brutus's servants who appears in the camp at Sardis, but he mentions that he
does not see Caesar's ghost.
Volumnius– A friend of Brutus and a soldier in his army, refuses to kill Brutus after their defeat
at Philippi.
Young Cato– A soldier with Brutus's forces at the Battle of Philippi and dies there in combat.
