List of Main Characters

Julius Caesar

Caesar is a hero of Rome and winner of many military campaigns, but who now seeks political power and to be the undisputed ruler of the Roman Empire.  Although he is a brilliant military tactician, he is politically inept being indecisive and easily flattered and swayed.  He is assassinated at the mid-point of the play, but appears as a ghost to Brutus towards the end.

Mark Antony

He occupies the position of Caesar’s First Lieutenant and it is he who offers Caesar the crown during the feast of Lupercal.  He has a reputation of being a reveler and womanizer, but he is also a manipulator, skilled orator and has learnt sound military tactics from Caesar.  During his speech at Caesar’s funeral, he sways the public to his way of thinking and eventually incites them to rebellion.  He leads the second Triumvirate with Octavius and Lepidus, and successfully brings about the downfall of Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators. 

Brutus

He is a well-respected judicial magistrate of Rome who is persuaded by Cassius to join the conspiracy against Caesar. He fears that if Caesar takes the crown of Rome, he will turn into a tyrant and enslave the people.  He heroically leads his troops and defeats the armies of Octavius at Philippi, but loses his fight against Mark Antony and commits suicide.

Cassius

Cassius is the close friend and brother-in-law of Brutus who organizes a conspiracy against Caesar. He is very persuasive and encourages Brutus to join the plot. His ruthlessness is tempered by Brutus’ influence, and part of Brutus’ nobility rubs off on him as the play develops.  After his defeat by Antony at Philippi, he commits suicide mistakenly believing that Brutus has been defeated.

Calphurnia

She is the wife of Julius Caesar who fails to dissuade her husband from going to the Capitol on the Ides of March. She foresees the death of Caesar in a dream, which shows streams of blood flowing from his body.

Portia

She is the daughter of Marcus Cato and wife of Brutus, and is a well-educated and intuitive woman, who senses that her husband is involved in some sort of conspiracy. When she realizes that her husband’s fortunes are doomed she commits suicide by swallowing hot coals.

Octavius Caesar

He is the adopted son and heir of Julius Caesar and he forms part of the second Triumvirate with Mark Antony and Lepidus. He does not have the military prowess of Julius Caesar or Mark Antony and Brutus defeats his army at Philippi.  He does not die with his troops and joins Mark Antony in their victorious battle over Cassius and Brutus.

Lepidus

This is the third member of the Triumvirate who is a wealthy banker, but politically weak, and Antony uses him to run errands.