Act+I+-+Characters

Act **I Characters**
Caesar(Full Name:Gaius Julius Caesar) ** A Roman general and excellent senator who was chosen to be Rome's leader. Caesar is not perfect, and has many flaws as well. He can not seem to separate his public life from his private life. Some Romans think of Caesar as selfish, conceited, or ill-mannered, but others believe he is a powerful, well-educated leader who is fit to run the city of Rome. In this quote from the book, "Yet if my name were lable to fear,/ I do not know the man I should avoid / So soon as that spare Cassius./" (Act 1 Scene 2) it underlines Caesar as a pompous man who thinks that he is powerful enough that he is incapable of fear. In the book, he is very naive and ignores the warnings and omens people are telling him. He considers hinself as immortal as the North Star. His obsession with appearing to be a tough, and perfect, leader eventually lead to his death. [2]
 * [1]

**Calphurnia** Caesar's wife who fears Caesar is in great danger. Calphurnia truly loves Caesar and does not want anything bad to happen to him. Though Calphurnia's love for Caesar is true, eventually, in a later act he defies her wishes and warning, leading to his death. Calphurnia is one of the only women in this play, and though her lines are none too plentiful (see inset), she shows her opinions quite clearly and straightforward. She feels very lonely as she has no one else to love but Caesar. Calphurnia is very protective of Caesar, because she doesn't want to lose him as she dreams of his death in her sleep. You shall not stir out of your house to-day. || Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. || The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. || Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house: And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. || [3]
 * **1** || [|I,2,85] || Here, my lord. ||
 * **2** || [|II,2,983] || What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth?
 * **3** || [|II,2,988] || Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
 * **4** || [|II,2,1006] || When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
 * **5** || [|II,2,1027] || Alas, my lord,
 * **6** || [|II,2,1045] || Say he is sick. ||

**Brutus (Full Name: Marcus Junius Brutus)** An ally of the Republic who supports the government guided by the votes of senators. Brutus wants to do what is best for Rome, and is going to do whatever is best for the city. Even though he is Caesar's best friend, Brutus fears Caesar obtains too much power. His love for Caesar is strong but it is nothing compared to the loyalty and love he feels for his home, Rome, and the people who live in it. He opposes the rising of a Roman to the position of becoming a dictator. He is tempted by Cassius to kill Caesar and to go against him. At first, Brutus doesn't take as much action until Cassius convinces him that killing Caesar would make Rome a better home for him and the citizens. [4]  Brutus' wife and the daughter of a righteous Roman. Her father was a supporter Caesar's enemy, Pompey. Portia is crushed by the conflict going on internally and externally in her husbands life. The decline in in attention and devotion being shown to her by husband is unsettling for her. The two factors previously mentioned lead to her taking her own life. Portia, like Calphurnia, is a strong willed and headstrong woman. Both Portia and Calphurnia are longing to be noticed and be part of their relationships with their husbands, Brutus and Caesar. Portia cares only for Brutus' safety, which is why she is also very protective of him. She loves Brutus so much, that she doesn't want him to suffer, so she shows her strength by stabbing herself in the thigh with a dagger. [5] When she hears of Brutus' death, she swallows hot coals so she can die and be with him again. [5] **Cassius (Full Name: Gaius Cassius Longinus)** A sneaky, devious general and long time friend of Caesar. Cassius wants to be in power and have all the money and fame just like Caesar. He envies Caesar because of how much power he has gained over time, and tries to convince Brutus, Caesar's best friend, to join his conspiracy to kill Caesar. He manipulates Brutus into getting something he wants, but in the end, it doesn't work out for him. Cassius is rather important in this play, in fact, he gets himself in a chunk of one of Caesar's speeches, "... So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much,/ He is a great observer, and he looks/ Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,/ As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;/ Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort/ As if he mocked hmself, and scorned his spirit/ That could be moved to smile at anything./ Such men as he be never at heart's ease/ Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,/ And therefore are thy very dangerous/" (act 1 scene 2). Some characteristics that would be used to describe Cassius are; jealous, sly, intelligent, political, manipulative, dishonest, and cynical. [6] **Casca (Full Name:Publius Servilius Casca)** A public speaker who opposes Caesar's rise to power. Casca tells Cassius and Brutus a story how Caesar refused the crown three times, so he will look noble to his fellow Romans. He believes Caesar is just worried about his reputation in Rome and does not care about the city's future itself. Casca was a family friend of Julius Caesar and he was the first to stab him. Casca was one of the prime instigators of the plot to kill Caesar. He was very cynical, witty, rude, and perceptive.
 * Portia (Full Name: Portia Catunis)**

[7]

**Antony (Full Name: Marcus Antonius )** Antony is one of Caesar's best friends, that manipulates people throughout the play. He is a strong competitive general and well-educated. Antony tells people he is on their side, but then plots against them behind their backs. As you read the play, you are not certain on whether he wants to best for Rome, or the best for himself. The conspirators believe that Antony is full of ignorance and that he is of dense, but he is truly intelligent and sly. Two of his very important speeches are in Act III Scene II (O! Pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth...) and Act II Scene II (Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...) [8] **Cicero (Full Name- Marcus Tullius Cicero)** His life was from 106 to 43B.C. Cicero was a Roman senator famous for his oratorical skills. He was also one of the conspirators who killed Caesar. He was eventually murdered by Antony and Octavius, who were afraid that he might rally the republican cause that they were eager to crush. [9] **Decius** Another member of the conspiracy who also convinced Julius Caesar to come to the Senator Meeting which led to his death. [10]

**Flavius and Murellus** Both tribunes, an official elected by the people who protects the citizen's rights, who don't like Caesar. Flavius and Murellus condemn the plebeians because they were cheering for Caesar, when once they cheered for Pompey. After removing the decorations that was on Caesar's statue, Flavius and Murellus get punished severely. They are the comic relief in the first scene of the first act.

[12] Flavius Marullus [11]

**Cinna** Cinna is a poet that is unfortunate enough to have the same name as a conspirator. When the townspeople are out trying to find the conspirators, he is murdered for having the same name as a conspirator. [13] **Artemedorious** Artemedorious is a philosopher that warns Caesar of the plot to murder him, but Caesar refuses to listen. He warms Caesar through a letter and plans to hand him the letter himself, in front of the Capitol.

**Soothsayer** The Soothsayer is a prophet that warns Caesar to beware the Ides of March. Caesar refuses to listen and dies on that day. [14]

**Bibliography** __[1] [|http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/characters.ht]__ [2] __http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/descent/photos/Julius.Caesar.2.jpg []

[3]__ http://www.imdb.com/media/rm642553856/tt0045943 []

[4] http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/35/6435-004-BC928F34.jpg

[5] http://www-english.tamu.edu/pers/fac/phillippy/_women_artists/sirani/img/woundingthigh.jpg

[6]http://www.josephhaworth.com/images/In%20Character%20Photos/Julius%20Caesar/Joseph%20Haworth%20as%20Cassius%20in%20Julius%20Caesar-headshot-B&W-Resized.jpg [7] [] [8] http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/BRGPOD/134790%7EMr-H-Marston-as-Marc-Antony-Act-III-Scene-2-in-Julius-Caesar-by-William-Shakespeare-Posters.jpg

[9] http://home.att.net/%7Eb.b.major/cicero.jpg

[10]http://www.fpa.ysu.edu/%7Eslsmith/ecbyzwebpage/decius.jpg [11]http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/julius_caesar_statue.jpg [12]http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/julius_caesar_statue.jpg [13] [] [14] []