Julius Caesar: Characters

Julius Caesar – A famous general, and husband to Calpurnia. His followers wish to make him king, causing Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators to kill him before that can happen. Though Caesar’s ambition is supposedly the reason he is killed (according to both his murderers and to the rules of tragedy), we don’t see much of this ambition in the play. The Caesar we see is certainly vain, even to the point of self-delusion, but also displays firm adherence to his principles and proves himself a perceptive judge of character. Caesar’s greatness is evident not so much in himself as in the love he inspires in Antony and the bitter jealousy he inspires in Cassius. At times, Caesar seems to suspect his own imminent murder, but goes toward it anyway, almost as if he seeks martyrdom.

Marcus Brutus – A high-ranking and well-respected Roman, husband to Portia, and one of Caesar’s murderers. An intelligent and self-possessed stoic, Brutus is respected by friend and enemy alike, and even by Caesar as Brutus kills him. Ironically, it is Brutus’s admirable qualities—patriotism, reason, self-control—that cause him to participate in Caesar’s murder, once these qualities are abused by Cassius. Brutus loves Caesar, but is so opposed to Rome having a king that his reason demands Caesar’s death. Brutus’s strict moral code also brings about his own undoing, since he refuses to kill Antony, as the more Machiavellian Cassius suggests they should.

Caius Cassius – Instigator of the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius had served beside Caesar in many wars, and even once saved his life. Unlike Brutus, who loves Caesar but is opposed to the idea of a monarchy, Cassius seems more motivated by jealousy, even hatred, of Caesar than by any political ideology, as he first professes. Indeed, Cassius begins to exhibit many of the bad qualities for which he initially argued Caesar must die, like ambition, dishonesty, and greed.

Mark Antony – Caesar’s friend. He desires to make Caesar king, and virtually single-handedly brings about the undoing of the conspirators after Caesar’s murder. Described as a passionate man who loves art and music, and teased even by Caesar for staying out late at parties, Antony is the opposite of the coldly logical Brutus. He was not sharp enough to suspect the plot against Caesar, but it is Antony’s masterful speech to the plebeians that stirs them up against his killers. Antony can also be devious when necessary, planning to cheat the people by altering Caesar’s will, and to eliminate his ally Lepidus. It is the combination of these qualities that make him a better all-around politician—and replacement for Caesar—than either Brutus or Cassius.

Portia – Wife of Brutus, daughter of the famous Roman statesman Cato. She is proud of her identity as a member of two famous Roman families, and takes her role as wife seriously, demanding that Brutus keep no secrets from her, or exclude her from any aspect of his life. Despite this pride, she still respects Roman gender roles enough to subordinate herself to her husband. Portia seems ashamed of being a woman, and identifies more with the ideal of the fearless Roman man, stabbing herself in the thigh to prove she can keep secrets, and eventually killing herself in an unnecessarily painful way, by swallowing hot coals.

Calpurnia – Wife of Caesar. She has prophetic dreams about Caesar’s murder, and unsuccessfully tries to persuade him to stay home.

Octavius Caesar – Caesar’s nephew and adopted heir. He is young and inexperienced when he returns to Rome as an ally of Antony’s after Caesar’s death—he protests Antony’s plan to betray Lepidus, and is initially outmaneuvered by Brutus at Philippi. After the events of Julius Caesar, however, Octavius eventually overcomes both Lepidus and Antony (as Shakespeare dramatized in his play Antony and Cleopatra) and rules alone and very successfully as Augustus Caesar.

Casca – One of the conspirators. Casca is a cynic—a personality type Shakespeare contrasts with the stoicism of Brutus and the Epicureanism of Cassius—and is therefore sarcastic and rude. He seems to want to kill Caesar not out of jealousy like Cassius, or out of concern for Rome like Brutus, but because he thinks Caesar is a phony. Casca is the first one to stab Caesar.

Decius Brutus – One of the conspirators. He is adept at flattery and persuasion, and goes to Caesar’s house the morning of the murder to persuade Caesar to come to the Capitol by playing on his vanity and pride.

Metellus Cimber – One of the conspirators, who had a brother banished by Caesar.

Caius Ligarius – One of the conspirators, convinced to join merely by the fact that Brutus was involved.

Cinna – One of the conspirators.

Trebonius – One of the conspirators.

Lucius – Servant to Brutus.

Lepidus – A weak leader, part of the Second Triumvirate with Antony and Octavius.

Flavius – A tribune who, along with Murellus, is punished for removing wreaths from Caesar’s statues.

Murellus – A tribune who defaces Caesar’s statues with Flavius.

Cicero – A Roman senator famous for his wisdom and pride.

Publius – A Senator sympathetic to the conspirators.

Popillius Laena – A Senator sympathetic to the conspirators.

Soothsayer – Has a premonition of the danger facing Caesar, but is ignored.

Artemidorus – Attempts to warn Caesar.

Cinna the Poet – A poet attacked by the plebeians for having the same name as one of the conspirators.

Pindarus – Cassius’s indentured servant, who assists his suicide.

Titinius – One of Cassius’s officers.

Lucillius – One of Brutus’s officers.

Messala – One of Brutus’s officers.

Varrus – One of Brutus’s officers.

Claudio – One of Brutus’s officers.

Young Cato – An in-law of Brutus, and one of his officers.

Strato – An officer of Brutus, who assists his suicide.

Volumnius – One of Brutus’s officers.

Dardanius – One of Brutus’s officers.

Clitus – One of Brutus’s officers.

Poet – Interrupts an argument between Brutus and Cassius.

Caesar’s Ghost – Appears before Brutus.

Cobbler – A plebeian accosted in the street by Flavius and Murellus.

Carpenter – Accompanies the Cobbler.

Plebians – Common people, first pacified by Brutus, then stirred up by Antony, after the murder of Caesar.

Messenger – Brings news to Antony at Philippi.