Rufio Character Analysis in Caesar and Cleopatra

Rufio is one of Caesar’s lead officers. He’s a burly, middle-aged man with a rough, unsentimental personality. Although Rufio is loyal to Caesar, he is also critical of Caesar’s lenient treatment of their rivals. Rufio believes it is naive of Caesar to grant clemency indiscriminately and isn’t opposed to unnecessary bloodshed if it allows the Roman army to conquer their enemies. In Act IV, Rufio discovers that Ftatateeta is responsible for Pothinus’s murder, so he slashes her throat in retaliation. While Rufio (unlike Caesar) doesn’t necessarily disagree with Ftatateeta’s actions, he views her loyalty to Cleopatra as a threat to Caesar’s control of Egypt and uses this to justify the act of vengeance. Before Caesar leaves for Rome at the end of Act V, he appoints Rufio the governor of Egypt. Caesar’s decision surprises Rufio, who has no noble blood, but Caesar assures him that he considers Rufio his son. While Caesar condemns unnecessary bloodshed, he supports Rufio’s decision to kill Ftatateeta, agreeing with Rufio’s assessment of Ftatateeta as a viable threat to Roman rule.

Rufio Quotes in Caesar and Cleopatra

The Caesar and Cleopatra quotes below are all either spoken by Rufio or refer to Rufio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

CAESAR. If one man in all the world can be found, now or forever, to know that you did wrong, that man will have either to conquer the world as I have, or be crucified by it. […] These knockers at your gate are also believers in vengeance and in stabbing. You have slain their leader: it is right that they shall slay you. […] then in the name of that right (He emphasizes the word with great scorn.) shall I not slay them for murdering their Queen, and be slain in my turn by their countrymen as the invader of their fatherland? Can Rome do less than slay these slayers too, to show the world how Rome avenges her sons and her honor? And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand. […]

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Ftatateeta, Pothinus, Apollodorus , Rufio, Britannus

Related Symbols: Thrones

Page Number and Citation: 99-100

Explanation and Analysis:

Cleopatra has just admitted to Caesar that she ordered Ftatateeta to assassinate Pothinus. As an angry mob gathers outside the palace to avenge their leader’s death, Cleopatra pleads with Caesar to admit that her actions were justified. However, unlike Apollodorus, Rufio, and Britannus, who believe Cleopatra was right to slay Pothinus, Caesar refuses to condone Pothinus’s murder. Instead, he condemns Cleopatra’s actions and the concept of vengeance altogether. In a long monologue, Caesar argues that the problem with vengeance—even justified vengeance—is that it invariably produces justification for more vengeance. Even if Cleopatra was right to slay Pothinus, who did pose Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. H

CAESAR (energetically). On my head be it, then; for it was well done. Rufio: had you set yourself in the seat of the judge, and with hateful ceremonies and appeals to the gods handed that woman over to some hired executioner to be slain before the people in the name of justice, never again would I have touched your hand without a shudder. But this was natural slaying: I feel no horror at it.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Rufio, Ftatateeta, Pothinus

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 111

Explanation and Analysis:

Just before Caesar departs Egypt to return to Rome, Cleopatra confronts Caesar about Rufio’s slaying of Ftatateeta. To Cleopatra’s surprise, Caesar supports Rufio and believes he was right to murder Ftatateeta. In this passage, Caesar affirms that Rufio’s slaying of Ftatateeta was, in fact, “well done” and justified. Caesar supports Rufio’s slaying of Ftatateeta because Rufio decided to commit the slaying logically, after recognizing Ftatateeta’s fervent loyalty to Cleopatra as a threat to Caesar’s life. If loyalty to Cleopatra had compelled Ftatateeta to kill Pothinus, there’s no reason to think she wouldn’t do the same to Caesar if Cleopatra asked Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta it

Rufio Character Timeline in Caesar and Cleopatra

The timeline below shows where the character Rufio appears in Caesar and Cleopatra. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Just then, a burly, middle-aged Roman officer named Rufio appears in the loggia and announces Caesar’s arrival. Caesar enters. He wears a wreath on... (full context)

...announces that he will side with the Egyptians, who outnumber the Romans. Achillas’s betrayal angers Rufio, but it amuses Caesar. (full context)

Caesar tells Pothinus that any Egyptian who wants to leave is free to go. Rufio fumes at Caesar’s clemency. Determined to show Caesar that he is still indebted to Ptolemy,... (full context)

...free to go. Angry that Caesar has let Lucius off the hook for Pompey’s murder, Rufio angrily accuses Lucius of being a Republican. (full context)

Caesar puts his hand on Rufio’s shoulder and leads him out of the loggia to cool down. After Lucius exits, Caesar,... (full context)

Caesar turns around and realizes that Ptolemy is still in the hall. Rufio grabs Ptolemy’s hand to lead him away. Ptolemy asks Caesar if he’s kicking him out... (full context)

...that Achillas’s Roman army has arrived in the city, and the citizens are fighting back. Rufio and Britannus, who have been watching the battle from the balcony, enter the loggia. Caesar... (full context)

...that the library of Alexandria is on fire, but the news doesn’t faze Caesar or Rufio. Theodotus accuses Caesar of being a brutish soldier who doesn’t appreciate “the value of books”... (full context)

...and Caesar orders Pothinus to tell the Egyptians not to kill any more Roman soldiers. Rufio returns and berates Caesar for letting more Egyptians go. Caesar laughs at Rufio’s outrage and... (full context)

...if she is to be Queen, it’s important for her to watch battles. Before Caesar, Rufio, and Britannus can leave, Cleopatra tells them that they won’t be able to leave Egypt,... (full context)

Meanwhile, at the lighthouse, Rufio rests after the morning’s battle, eating dates out his helmet and drinking wine. Caesar stands... (full context)

...Caesar’s chest, and begs him not to leave her to lead his soldiers into battle. Rufio angrily tells Cleopatra that the men will perish if Caesar doesn’t lead them, but Cleopatra... (full context)

...bemoans the Romans stationed at the barricade who will now die due to his miscalculations. Rufio blames Caesar for letting Cleopatra distract him from strategizing effectively. Apollodorus returns from the shore.... (full context)

...send a ship to retrieve them. Caesar suggests that the rest of them swim, too. Rufio points out that Caesar is twice Apollodorus’s age and might not be up for such... (full context)

Meanwhile, Rufio climbs onto the palace roof, where a table is set for dinner. Rufio sits down... (full context)

Rufio implies that he has something important to tell Caesar, and Caesar motions for his enslaved... (full context)

...natural that she would want to rule Egypt. Cleopatra is overcome with emotion, so Caesar, Rufio, and Pothinus exit to give her some time to collect herself. (full context)

...grin and promises to follow through with the request. Caesar returns, followed by Apollodorus and Rufio. Cleopatra runs to Caesar and wraps her arms around him. Ftatateeta exits, exchanging a meaningful... (full context)

...Caesar when he intends to leave for Rome. Caesar suggests that he might never return. Rufio is shocked. Caesar explains that he’s had enough of Rome and thinks it would be... (full context)

...Caesar is about to follow him when Ftatateeta appears, a “murderous expression” on her face. Rufio immediately understands what has happened and quietly warns Caesar that something is going on between... (full context)

...feigns ignorance again and moves closer to caress him. Caesar doesn’t respond to Cleopatra’s advances. Rufio tries to make Ftatateeta leave, but Ftatateeta remains loyally at Cleopatra’s side. Caesar tells Cleopatra... (full context)

...only because he never trusted her in the first place. Suddenly, a trumpet sounds below. Rufio returns, followed by Lucius Septimius. Seeing Pompey’s murderer again disgusts Caesar. Rufio tells Caesar that... (full context)

...disagrees with Cleopatra. Apollodorus stands behind her and promises that she will not die alone. Rufio argues that he has an instinct to kill. (full context)

...settled” when he returns. He exits, leaving Cleopatra to wallow in her humiliation and self-pity. Rufio tells Cleopatra that she has “played [the game] and lost,” and that “the woman always... (full context)

Rufio draws open the curtains to leave. He sees Ftatateeta, who is still praying at Ra’s... (full context)

Caesar, Rufio, and Britannus arrive. Everyone cheers. Rufio reminds Caesar that they have yet to appoint a... (full context)

...assumes that Cleopatra is in mourning for Ptolemy. Cleopatra tells him he should talk to Rufio. (full context)

Caesar turns to Rufio, who presents Caesar with a hypothetical dilemma. What would Caesar do, asks Rufio, if he... (full context)

Rufio Character Analysis

Rufio Quotes in Caesar and Cleopatra

Act 4 Quotes

Act 5 Quotes

Rufio Character Timeline in Caesar and Cleopatra