Julius Caesar Characters & Descriptions
Julius Caesar is a great general of Rome, who has recently won a civil war against Pompey and returns to Rome in triumph.
Octavius is Caesar’s nephew. Called to Rome by his uncle, he is greeted on its outskirts by the news of Caesar’s death.
Mark Antony is Caesar’s closest companion. A young man much given to reveling, enjoying music and plays, he runs in the sacred race of the Feast of Lupercal, touching Calpurnia on the way in the hopes of curing her barrenness.
Lepidus is a Senator of Rome. He is present at Caesar’s death, and flees from it.
Brutus is a noble Roman, descended from the Brutus who liberated Rome from the tyrannical monarchy of the Tarquins.
Artemidorus learns of the conspiracy against Caesar and attempts to warn him, but is unable to get his message through.
Soothsayer warns Caesar of the Ides of March, without giving any further details, being thereby accounted a dreamer.
Cinna the Poet has the misfortune of having the same name as one of Caesar’s murderers, and of not being known for good writing. He is torn to pieces by a mob.
A Poet is a companion of Cassius. He has little sense of rhythm or rhyme, and attempts (poorly) to moralize to Brutus and Cassius.
Young Cato is a soldier in Brutus’s army. Portia’s brother, he is as proud of his lineage as she is, and truly believes in the conspirators’ cause. He dies proudly proclaiming both these facts.
Volumnius is an officer in Brutus’s army, and an old schoolfellow of his. He refuses to help Brutus kill himself.
Varrus is a sentry in Brutus’s army, charged with guarding Brutus’s tent at night.
Clitus is a soldier in Brutus’s army, one of the last to survive and follow him. He refuses to help Brutus kill himself.
Claudio is a sentry in Brutus’s army, charged with guarding Brutus’s tent at night.
Strato is a soldier in Brutus’s army. He accepts to hold the sword Brutus throws himself on.
Dardanius is a soldier in Brutus’s army, one of the last to survive and follow him. He refuses to help Brutus kill himself.
Pindarus is Cassius’s Parthian bondman. With some regret, he kills Cassius at the latter’s request as the price of his freedom, and flees somewhere where he’ll never be found.
A Cobbler leaves his shop to go see Caesar’s triumph, and takes the whole day off.
A Carpenter leaves his shop to go see Caesar’s triumph, dressed in his best clothes.
Portia is the daughter of Cato and the wife of Brutus. She is proud of both of these, and is the definition of a stoic Roman woman.
Caesar’s Servant brings his master the disturbing news that the augurers sacrificed a beast in which they could not find a heart.
First Soldier in the conspirators’ army gives the order to cease marching to his fellow men. He may be either Brutus’s or Cassius’s follower.
Second Soldier in the conspirators’ army gives the order to cease marching to his fellow men. He may be either Brutus’s or Cassius’s follower.
Third Soldier in the conspirators’ army gives the order to cease marching to his fellow men. He may be either Brutus’s or Cassius’s follower.
A Messenger brings Octavius and Antony the news that Brutus and Cassius’s armies are marching.
Octavius’s Attendant is sent by his master to give Antony a message, and arrives at the Capitol to find him with Caesar’s body.
The First Plebeian chooses to listen to Brutus when the latter comes forward to explain his murdering Caesar.
The Second Plebeian follows Cassius to hear his explanation for Caesar’s murder. He joins the mob murdering Cinna the poet.
The Third Plebeian knows Brutus to be noble, and soon wishes to have him in charge of Rome.
The Fourth Plebeian is at first convinced by Brutus’s explanation for the murder of Caesar, calling for a statue to be raised to the murderer, but he is willing to listen to Antony.
The Fifth Plebeian is convinced by Brutus’s speech explaining the murder of Caesar and believes that the murderer will have all of Caesar’s qualities and none of his vices.
Antony’s Messenger comes to ask the conspirators for a guarantee that Antony can approach safely to ask for an explanation for the assassination.
First Soldier of Antony’s helps to kill Cato, and refuses to kill Lucillius when he is convinced that the latter is Brutus. He is greatly excited to tell Antony of his capture.
Second Soldier of Antony’s helps to kill Cato and passes on the news of Brutus’s (supposed) capture to Antony.
