Julius Caesar

Antony

A good friend of JC who launches himself into a major position of power over the course of the play. Riles up a mob with his powerful, carefully crafted eulogy at JC's death. His speech ignites a civil war.

Lepidus

Antony has a low opinion of this Roman.

Calphurnia

Caesar's Wife; minor character. Just before Caesar is assassinated at the Capitol, Calphurnia has an ominous dream that seems to predict Caesar's violent death. She begs Caesar to stay home, but her husband blows her off:

Octavius

JC's adopted son. Like JC he doesn't appear on stage very much. Most of the play he is off travelling the world. He returns to Rome when Caesar is assassinated and joins forces with Antony against the conspirators. Octavius may be "young" (Antony likes to remind him that he is older and more experienced), but he's not a pushover.

Brutus

One of the conspirators, Caesar's closest Allie yet he stabs him in in the back (literally and figuratively). He fears Caesar will become the Emperor of Rome and Brutus fears the loss of the republic more than the loss of a friend. Tragic Flaw: Love of the republic - trusting Cassius

Cassius

Ringleader of the conspirators. He's politically savvy and manipulative, and he absolutely resents the way the Roman people treat Julius Caesar like a rock star, and he hates how JC is acting like a god. Also responsible for manipulating Brutus into joining the conspiracy (although Brutus may have already been thinking of turning against Caesar):

Casca

Roman conspirator. Worried that Caesar will be crowned king with goes against the ideals of the Roman Republic. Stabbed Caesar First

Patricians

Rome's Aristocracy - spoke in verse during the play

Publians

The general public of Rome - spoke in prose.

Portia

daughter of Cato; Brutus' wife; stabs herself to prove her loyalty; "eats fire"

Cinna (The Conspirator)

he schemes with Cassius about how to get Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar. He's also assigned the task of planting some phony documents in Brutus' room.

Pompey

member of first Triumvirate defeated by JC before the play begins.

JC's warnings

1. Beware the Ides of March 2. Calphurnia's dream about a fountain flowing blood. 3. animal sacrificed, has no heart.

Decius Brutus

Flatters Caesar into going to the Senate on the Ides of March.

Cinna (the Poet)

This poor guy is the victim of mistaken identity when an angry mob confronts him on the streets of Rome. Even after he declares his true identity to the angry mob, he's ripped to shreds for his "bad verses." Cinna's violent death seems emblematic of the disorder that ensues after Caesar's assassination. With Caesar dead, Rome falls into utter chaos and nobody is safe.

Artemidorius

Tries to give JC a letter warning him of the assassination.

SoothSayer

Warns JC to "Beware the Ides of March (15 March - the day JC is assassinated)The soothsayer's warning raises an interesting question about fate and free will. If Caesar had actually heeded the warning to "beware the Ides of March," could he have changed the course of events that day? On the one hand, the soothsayer's warning about his impending doom (along with all the other creepy omens in the play) suggests that Caesar's fate is already decided. On the other hand, why would the soothsayer bother warning Caesar if there was nothing he could do to prevent his death?

Julius Caesar

a powerful Roman political and military leader who gets stabbed int he back (and the arms, legs, and guts!) by a group of conspirators who are supposed to be his friend. He is offered the crown three times. Tragic Flaw: amibition