Julius Caesar Characters

Antony

Antony is important because he is someone who Caesar trusts and he in turn is very loyal to him. Caesar asks Antony to touch his wife, Calpurnia, before he raced in the Lupercal Festival because she is infertile and he believed that he would make her fertile. In act II, scene I Cassius voiced his concerns about Antony. He thought that if they killed Caesar, he would still be a danger to them. Brutus on the other hand believed that without Caesar, Antony is useless. Therefore, they decided that they will keep him alive.

Artemidorus

Artemidorus is a loyal supporter of Caesar and has received word about the conspiracy and their assassination plot. Artemidorus wrote a letter to Caesar about this plan and is trying to warn him about the conspirators. He will give this letter to Caesar when he heads to the Senate House.

Brutus

Brutus is one of the most important characters in the story, and plays an essential role in the plotline. He is someone who has earned the respect of many people in Rome, including the conspirators who believe he would be a vital addition to their cause. Brutus starts out as as someone who does not know or have a clear opinion of Caesar, much less himself. He doesn't seem to see himself the way other citizens do, which is why it is very easy for Cassius to sway him to follow him in bringing down Caesar. Though Brutus does agree with Cassius, he still thinks for himself unlike many of the other conspirators. It takes longer for Cassius to get him to agree to join him because of this, and it is primarily because of Brutus's constant questioning. Unlike the others, it seems that he wants this enterprise to happen as quickly as possible without drawing too much attention and he wants the people to see that what they did was done for the right reason. It is the reason he doesn't want Mark Antony to be killed, and shows how Brutus meticulously thinks things through and why he is very important to the enterprise. As the story progresses, Brutus plays an integral role in putting the plan together and following it through. The only person he tells all his plans to is Portia, his trusting wife who begins to have second doubts about holding this secret. Brutus has made himself committed to the cause, and is able to partially convince Portia of the actions he will do, yet he himself still has his own doubts to worry about even though he does his best to ignore them.

Caesar

Caesar is an interesting fellow. While he is considered a god among the people, he shows his weakness when he faints in front of a crowd. He knows that he shouldn't trust everyone around him, but Caesar still trusts many members of the senate. He is the head of the Roman senate and soon to become king. Caesar is pivotal in Julius Caesar because he provides the driving force for many of the characters in the play. Even near the end, as everyone plots against him, he is convinced by a conspirator to go to senate against his wife's will. This shows his gullibility and misplaced trust in the people around him. Caesar still has important allies, such as Mark-Antony and Cicero, but they are not enough to deter the assassination attempt. They, like Caesar, are unable to uncover the plot in time to stop Caesar from being killed. Instead, Caesar is still sent to the senate among the wolves in sheep's clothing. Caesar is also sly, he can make himself look good even when he is doing evil deeds. Caesar is also very prideful, as shown by how he thinks highly of himself almost as if he were a god, and he believes that he is above danger itself.

Caius

Caius was introduced in Act II Scene I. Caius is one of the conspirators who works with Brutus in his plan to kill Caesar. He is treated unfairly by Caesar because of how well he spoke about Pompey. Caius is at first reluctant to join in killing Caesar, but after visiting Brutus, he is assured and agrees to the proposed plan.

Calpurnia

Calpurnia is Caesar's wife and is only mentioned once in Act 1 (because the people during that time didn't believe that women were strong or important). She is infertile and Caesar wants to change that. He tells her to be touched by Antonius during the race so that she will become fertile (according to the superstitions and beliefs during that time). Leaving heirs was a concern at the time. Update: In Act II Scene II, Calpurnia has a gruesome nightmare about Caesar that she interprets as a bad omen. In this dream, she sees Caesar's statue gushing blood and Romans happily washing their hands in it. Along with the weird things that had been happening in the Capitol, this nightmare makes her fearful that something could happen to her husband and tries to prevent him from leaving. Calpurnia trying to keep Caesar safe from harm shows that she cares about him. Even though she knows that she does not have power over him, her effort to make him think about the omens/warning signs shows that she would be upset if anything happened to him.

Casca

Casca is one of the people who opposes Caesar taking the crown. He appears in scene III of act I, when Brutus and Cassius asked him what happened while they were talking. Casca talks about how Antony gives the "crown" to Caesar three times yet Caesar rejects it three times. Casca also states that every time Caesar does not take the crown, it gets harder for him. Casca believes that Caesar should be taken down since he has too much power (the followers would support him even if he killed their family). In act II, Casca is one of the conspirators that arrive at Brutus's house. Casca acts dumb even though he is very smart. In act 2, Casca continues to support the revolt against Caesar and arrives at Caesar's house to finish the plan.

Cassius

Cassius is a major character with much importance in the play. His main role as Brutus' close friend is largely relevant to the plot, since Cassius is the one to convince Brutus to shift his beliefs and go along with the plan to kill Caesar. By making plans such as making Brutus trust him and putting falsified letters in Brutus' house, Cassius shows himself to be manipulative, and even admits to himself that Brutus is foolish to trust him. Cassius is also an important person in the Senate, and he has many connections with powerful people. In Act II, Scene I, Cassius shows up at Brutus' house to discuss the senators' plan, and is the one to primarily control the conversation, along with Brutus. However, he shows himself to be even more manipulative by letting the group overpower his proposal to also kill Mark Antony. This relinquishing of control lets the other conspirators have a say, while Cassius still remains the head of the conversation. Overall, Cassius is a very influential person, and he is the one to bring the group of conspirators together in their plans.

Cinna

Cinna is one of the conspirators who goes to visit Brutus along with the other men. He goes because he wants Brutus to help with the assassination of Caesar. He arrives at Brutus' house and says that they should kill Caesar, but not Cicero.

Flavius

Flavius is a very opinionated person because in Act 1, he asked commoners that he didn't know what they were doing there and was all up in their business. He was concerned about what they were doing there and their whereabouts. He doesn't like Caesar and he drives his friend into a plan of ruining all of Caesar's pictures. He was killed for a treason.

Cicero

He speaks to Casca and is suspicious of the recent unnatural events and warning signs from the gods and thinks that they mean something. Cicero is not included in the plot to kill Caesar because he was a friend and ally of Caesar. The conspirators were not sure if he could be trusted and stay loyal to the plan. Cicero is a leader not a follower and would not be willing to listen to the other conspirators.

Decius

Introduced to the play in Act 2 and scene 1. Decius is one of the conspirators working alongside Cassius and Brutus in order to kill Caesar. He is wary of his situation since he questions whether or not other Romans should be killed in order to protect their name. Caesar is tricked by two faced Decius into thinking they are good friends, this is shown when Decius has the ability to converse and convince the king elect to venture into the capitol (Act 2 scene 2), even though all of the omens are going on. He lies making Calpurnia seem foolish about the justification of her dream (statue of Caesar with hole spewing blood while Romans bathed happily). Decius adds that Caesar will be mocked for going with his wife's choices based off of a dream, further demonstrating his skill at manipulation. Caesar believes the honorable story Decius created about people coming from all over to be blessed by the honorable Ceasar over his wife's reasons and continues onto the capitol.

Lucius

Lucius is seen only in Act II when he is speaking to his lord, Brutus. Throughout Scene 1, Lucius is very obedient to Brutus whenever he is told to do something. He never questions Brutus when given a command, and goes right into the task. He is honest to Brutus whenever a situation has happened or when Brutus asks him a question. Lucius is a loyal servant and is trusted by Brutus. Lucius is seen again in Act II, Scene 4 when he is being told by Portia to go to the Senate House and watch Caesar and the people around him, and to see if Brutus was well. Lucius has no problem obeying, but only asks what he shall do when he gets there. His behavior is the as it was when he was seen with Brutus in Act II Scene I. Nothing about Lucius really changes through the scenes. He still remains loyal and submissive to his lord, Brutus, and his wife, Portia.

Marullus

Marullus is a loyal supporter of Pompey and in Act 1, Scene 1, he is the one who addresses the commoners about celebrating the victory of Caesar. He is angry at all of them for turning their backs on Pompey and are now celebrating his death. Marullus took part in the disrobing the statues of Caesar's decorations, even though it was the Feast of Lupercal. He was later executed for this act of treason

Metellus

Metellus (Act 2, Scene 1) is one of the men in the plot to kill Caesar. He wants to have Cicero in the group so that the people will listen to him and believe they are doing what is right. He believes that Caesar should be killed because of what he did to Pompey after he used to talk highly of him.

Trebonius

One of the conspirators in the plot to kill Caesar. He makes snide comment about how Caesar will wish that he was not near him. This is for the purpose to show that Caesar will be killed by these men.

Portia

Portia happens to be Brutus's wife who is introduced to us in Act II Scene I. Portia seems to be suspicious of her husband who had claims to be sick but is up really early in the morning planning to kill Caesar with a group of people brought to him by Cassius. Portia seems to be a trustworthy person and is mad at her husband due to the fact that she sees that something could be bothering him and he will not tell her anything. Portia is strong and even shows her strength by proving to her husband that she is not just another woman that he "owns" but that she is his wife and put a wound in her leg to show her strength ____________________________ Portia has sworn herself to secrecy and wants to tell the secret she has been holding for a long time now but feels as though she can not. She wants to tell people about this big secret of how Brutus wants to kill Caesar. She has asked people to keep a close eye on Caesar who is at the capitol and she would like to talk to Brutus. Portia has gone to a soothsayer who is going to tell her what he sees might happen in the near future at the capitol. Portia says how just because she is a woman she can not keep a secret and also how she is very weak and can not live with herself knowing what is being planned for Caesar. She is trying to feel everything out to see if anything has changed about the plan.

Second Commoner

Second Commoner appears in Act 1 and is rather sarcastic when being addressed by Marullus. When constantly being asked of his work, he sasses Marullus and says that he is a cobbler and can mend him. While many would think that he meant that he could fix his shoes, Marullus took it as, and Second Commoner meant it as, he will hit him with a stone. In the end, Second Commoner addresses that he actually is a cobbler and does nothing, but mind his business and fix people's shoes. He then goes about his business after being sent home by Flavius and Marullus who both dislike Caesar.

Soothsayer

The Soothsayer is an important plot point in the play, due to it warning Caesar about the Ides of March, which foreshadows Caesar's death later on. It is only mentioned once in the play during the first act and only says one line "Beware the Ides of March", which it tells to Caesar during the Lupercal Festival. It's gender is not stated and as of now it has not reappeared.

First Commoner

The first commoner is stopped by Flavius and Marullus while he is on his way to honor Caesar's arrival. Flavius and Marullus talk to the first commoner, and find every reason to argue that Caesar is not an honorable man, and that he has done nothing that is worth glorifying. The commoner is with another commoner, and when asked what his profession is, he replies as a carpenter. The second commoner uses humor and analogies that correspond with his work as a "cobbler", as a clever response to Marullus' and Flavius' words.

Soothsayer 2

The second Soothsayer is a character that is introduced in Act II Scene lV. It is stated that while the character does not know exactly what is going to happen to Caesar, the soothsayer has a bad feeling that day. In the scene, Portia asked him if he is going to the capital, and the soothsayer says he is, for he wishes to speak to Caesar and warn him about his premonition. He later bids Portia farewell and states that he must hurry to the capitol before before the streets become too crowded for him to cross.