Character+Description

 Character Descriptions This page is dedicated to you, the reader. The goal of this page is to help you understand the characters in the play better. Here are a list of characters, some descriptions, and characteristics about them.


 * Julius Caesar:** Full name: Gaius Julius Caesar. Caesar was born on July 13, 100B.C. and was murdered on March 15, 44B.C. He was appointed dictator for life of Rome (empror) and was assassinated by a group of senators who feared his political power. Caesar's characteristics are intelligent, ambitious, inconstant, cold and perceptive.


 * Calphurnia:** Calphurnia is the wife of Julius Caesar. She has prophetic dreams, but nobody believes her. She had a dream that Caesar would be killed and attempted to convince him to stay home that day but he did not listen. She is also barren.


 * Marcus Brutus:** Full name: Marcus Junius Brutus. The most complex character in this play, Brutus is one of the men who assassinate Caesar in the Senate. He is also a best friend of Caesar. Brutus is complex, because he does not kill Caesar for greed, envy, or to preserve his social position like so many of the other conspirators against Caesar. This Brutus makes very clear in his speech in Act III, Scene II (Lines 12-76), when he explains his actions as being for the good of Rome. Brutus is the nephew of Caesar. He is one of the most respected people in the Roman world. While Brutus loves democracy, he is also full of self doubt and is very anxious to live up to his reputation. Some of Brutus' characteristics are intelligent, honest, loves democracy, self doubt, and a bit naive.


 * Portia:** Full name: Portia Catonis. Portia is Brutus’ wife. She is regarded as a great beauty and is a major roll as a woman. She commits suicide by swallowing hot coals as a result of Brutus ignoring her and not trusting her with the secret plan of assasinating Caesar.


 * Cassius:** Full name: Gaius Cassius Longinus. Cassius is the instigator of Caesar’s murder. He is a Roman senator. He forges letters to convince Brutus that the Roman people want Caesar dead. Caesar fears him because he is sly, and apposes a threat to his political power. Some of Cassius' characterisitcs are manipulative, dishonest, and cynical.


 * Casca:** Full name: Publius Sevillius Casca. Casca is a family friend of Caesar. He is the first to strike Caesar during the assasination. He is one of the prime instigators of the plot. Casca's characteristics are cynical, witty, rude, and perceptive.

Trebonius Metellus Cimber Decius Brutus
 * Other Conspirators:**


 * Antony:** Full name: Marcus Antonius. One of the Triumvirs (leaders) who rule Rome following Caesar's assassination. Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) is famous in this play for his speech, which turns the Romans against Brutus following his group's assassination of Caesar. Famous for the lines "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;" (Act III, Scene II, Line 79). Antony with fellow Triumvirs, Octavius and Lepidus, later defeat Brutus and Cassius on the Plains of Philippi in Act V. Antony is a great general and military commander. He is seen as all brawn and no brain. He is also a close friend of Caesar. Antony is smarter than a lot of people suspect but holds back and portrays a public image of, as stated above, all brawn and no brain. Characteristics of Antony are sly, perceptive, manipulative, and ambitious.


 * Octavius and Lepidus:** They are two members of the Triumvirate which oppose Brutus and Cassius. Octavius is smart and formidable, while Lepidus is rich, lazy, and not well regarded.

 **Cinna the Conspirator:** A conspirator against Caesar, who plays a key role in enlisting Brutus to their cause. It is Cinna who suggests to Cassius that Brutus join their conspiracy. Also assists Cassius' manipulation of Brutus by placing Cassius' letters responsible for manipulating Brutus where Brutus is sure to find and read them... Indirectly responsible for Cinna, the poet's death; since it is he the mob originally wished to kill...  
 * Flavius and Marullus:** These two characters open the play. They are tribunes, which are elected officials whose duty is to protect the common men and women. Flavius and Marullus aren’t happy with Caesar’s popularity and ambitions and proclaim that all of the gifts set upon Caesar's statues be taken down immediately. For this they are later exiled.
 * Cinna, the Poet:** A humble poet, this man is murdered by a mob mentality because he has the wrong name at the wrong time. After Mark Antony incites (angers) the people of Rome against Caesar's assassins, Cinna who shares the same name as one of the Conspirators, is killed despite his explaining of his identity as a poet. The mob, eager for blood, kill him regardless and use the excuse that they never liked his poems much anyway (Act III, Scene III, Lines 1-43).
 * Soothsayer and Artemedorious:** Both of these characters try to warn Caesar about his death, but Caesar just ignores them. The Soothsayer tells Caesar multiples time “Beware the ides of March.” Artemedorious is a philosopher who attempts to warn Caesar through a letter, which lists all the conspirators but Caesar once again ignores it.

__**Thoughts to Consider:** __ 
 * What are some larger themes of the play?
 * What should you think about as you read it?
 * Crowds: **
 * How does Shakespeare feel about crowds and the way that groups can react to current events?
 * What does shakespeare think of speakers and the use of rhetoric?

**Politics:**
 * What do you think about politics as you read this play?
 * Is it possible to participate in a political system and remain true?
 * Does power and political access corrupt?

Works Cited
 * Ms. Morgan.
 * Julius Caesar Notes.