Mark
Antony:
Mark Antony is Julius Caesar's right-hand man and personal friend. He
is known as a man who likes to spend the nights in feasting and revelry.
He enjoys sports and theater. It is Antony's cunning speech to the
masses after Caesar's death that turns public opinion against the
assassins, who gravely underestimated and misread him. He shows
magnanimity in victory.
Artemidorus
of Cnidos:
Artemidorus
of Cnidos is a teacher of rhetoric who tries but fails to warn Caesar of
the plot against him.
Decius
Brutus:
Decius
Brutus is one of the conspirators against Caesar.
Marcus
Brutus:
Marcus
Brutus is recruited for the assassination by Cassius. He becomes part of
the plot because he is concerned about the welfare of Rome. He does not
covet power for its own sake, and nor does he have any personal
complaint about Caesar.
He is presented throughout as a man of courtesy and honor,
although perhaps also as a man who is unsuited to wield political power.
After he is dead, Antony salutes him as "the noblest Roman of them
all."
Julius
Caesar: Julius
Caesar is the ruler of the Roman Empire. He is presented as a man of
strong will and self-belief. He is used to issuing commands and being
obeyed. He is stubborn and will not listen to pleas for mercy if he
thinks he is in the right. He considers himself to be resolute and
unwavering, and he is also perceptive, realizing that Cassius is a
dangerous man. But he denies he is afraid of Cassius and claims not to
fear anyone or anything. The conspirators believe Caesar is too
ambitious and will soon acquire such power that Rome will be enslaved to
one man. Although Caesar is a commanding figure, he is physically weak,
suffering from epilepsy as well as deafness in one ear.
Octavius
Caesar:
Octavius
Caesar becomes one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire after
Caesar's assassination. He is young, and Cassius contemptuously refers
to him as a schoolboy.
Calphurnia:
Calphurnia
is the wife of Julius Caesar. She has a nightmare in which she sees
Caesar's statue running blood, and she begs Caesar not to go to the
Senate that day.
Casca:
Casca is one of the conspirators, and it is he who stabs Caesar first.
Casca is known for his wit and liveliness. He is a man of action who can
get things done.
Cassius:
Cassius
is the chief conspirator against Caesar. It is he who recruits Brutus
and the others. Cassius is consumed with envy of Caesar, and sees no
reason why Caesar should hold power over him. Cassius is a good observer
of men and he has uncommon insight into people's motivations. He is a
serious man who reads a lot and does not smile much. Caesar observes
that Cassius has a "lean and hungry look." Unlike Antony, he does
not like music, and is in every way a contrast to the more sociable
Antony.
Young
Cato: Young
Cato is a friend of Cassius and Brutus. He dies a courageous death on
the battlefield.
Cicero:
Cicero is an old Roman senator with a reputation for wisdom. The
conspirators debate whether to include him in their plot, but decide
against it.
Metellus
Cimber:
Metellus
Cimber is one of the conspirators against Caesar. Moments before the
assassination, he pleads with Caesar to rescind the banishment of his
brother.
Cinna:
Cinna
is a Roman senator who is one of the conspirators against Caesar.
Cinna
the poet: Cinna
is dragged off by the mob after the assassination of Caesar, even though
he is not the same person as Cinna
the conspirator.
Clitus:
Clitus
is a servant of Brutus who refuses to kill his master when Brutus asks
him to.
Dardanius:
Dardanius
is a servant of Brutus who refuses to kill his master when Brutus asks
him to.
Flavius:
Flavius is a tribune who is executed for removing crowns placed on
Caesar's statues in Rome.
Caius
Legarius:
Caius
Legarius is one of the conspirators against Caesar. He is eager to join
the conspiracy in spite of the fact that he is sick.
Lepidus:
Lepidus
is one of the three men who rule the Roman Empire after Caesar's
assassination. However, Antony holds a very low opinion of him.
Lucilius:
Lucilius
is a friend of Brutus and Cassius who impersonates Brutus on the
battlefield. When Lucilius is captured, Antony prizes him highly and
treats him well.
Lucius:
Lucius
is a servant of Brutus.
Messala:
Messala
is a devoted friend of Cassius who participates in the battle at
Philippi.
Murellus:
Murellus
is a tribune who is executed for removing crowns placed on Caesar's
statues in Rome.
Pindarus:
Pindarus
is a servant of Cassius who reluctantly kills Cassius when Cassius asks
him to do so, and then flees the scene.
Popilius
Lena:
Popilius
Lena is a Roman senator who speaks to Caesar shortly before the
assassination, prompting Brutus and Cassius to fear that their plot has
been discovered.
Portia:
Portia
is Brutus' wife. She loves her husband and is disturbed by the fact
that he is upset but will not confide in her. She fears the worst. After
Brutus flees Rome, she commits suicide by swallowing burning coals.
Publius:
Publius
is a Roman senator who is present when Caesar is assassinated, but is
not part of the plot. Brutus reassures him he is safe.
Soothsayer:
The
soothsayer, a kind of prophet, warns Caesar to beware of the ides of
March.
Strato:
Strato
is a servant of Brutus who holds his master's sword as Brutus runs on
to it.
Titinius:
Titinius
is a friend of Brutus and Cassius and a soldier in their army. When he
discovers that Cassius misconstrued a situation on the battlefield
involving Titinius, and this resulted in Cassius's death, Titinius is
so overcome by grief that he kills himself.
Trebonius:
Trebonius
is one of the ringleaders in the conspiracy against Caesar. He agrees
with Brutus that they should not kill Antony as well.
Volumnius:
Volumnius
is a friend of Brutus who refuses to kill him when Brutus asks him to do
so.
|