Casca: One of the conspirators against Caesar, he starts the actual assassination of Caesar by stabbing first from behind.
Terminus: The only conspirator who does not actually stab Caesar, he is the man responsible for saving Mark Antony's life following Caesar's assassination. He leads Mark Antony away from the Senate house following the assassination and he backs up Brutus' suggestion that Mark Antony's life be spared.
Ligarius: The reluctantly assassin, Caius Ligarius at first hesitates in killing Caesar, but later enthusiastically follows the others in killing Caesar after Brutus restores his conviction.
Decius Brutus: A man who lures Caesar to his death by his deep understanding of Caesar's true vanity...
Not to be confused with Marcus Brutus, who is referred to in Julius Caesar simply as as Brutus. It is Decius Brutus who convinces Caesar to turn up to the Senate on the "ides of March" after Caesar announces that he is unwilling to attend the day's Senate because of his wife Calphurnia's dream foretelling doom. Decius Brutus turns Calphurnia's dream into a reason to attend the Senate by cleverly reinterpreting its negative imagery to instead symbolize Caesar's triumph.
Metellus Cimber: A conspirator against Caesar, it is his petition or request to Caesar for his brother's banishment to be overturned, that allows the conspirators to move close to Caesar, before they assassinate him with multiple stab wounds...
Cinna: 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: Two Tribunes introduced to us at the beginning of the play. Their conversation reveals the deep mistrust and fear many in Rome have about Caesar's growing popularity, which eventually leads to Caesar's assassination. These two men criticize Rome's citizens for praising Caesar almost without reason and are later put to death or "put to silence" for "pulling scarfs off Caesar's images," (Act I, Scene II, Line 291) during the Feast of Lupercal in Act I, Scene I (Note: Flavius the Tribune is not the same person as Flavius, a soldier whom appears in Act IV).
Artemidorus: The man who nearly saves Caesar, he presents Caesar with a letter warning warning Caesar that he will be killed (Act II, Scene III). Caesar however does not read the letter and so proceeds to his doom...
Cinna, the Poet: A humble poet, this man dies 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 assassins, is killed despite his explaining 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).
Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, Young Cato and Volumnius: Friends to Brutus and Cassius.
Varro, Clitus, Claudius, Strato, Lucius and Dardanius: Servants to Brutus.
Pindarus: A servant to Cassius, he is also the messenger bearing the wrong news... In Act V, Pindarus misreports to Cassius that Titinius, a scout sent to Brutus' forces was captured by the Triumvir's forces when he was actually welcomed by Brutus' army. On Pindarus' information, Cassius assumes that Brutus has been defeated and so thinking all is lost, decides to kill himself, using Pindarus to hold a sword out which he runs onto, the very sword, Cassius used against Caesar...
Calphurnia: The wife of Caesar, she begs her husband not to go to the Senate on "the ides of March" (March 15) when she cries out "'Help, ho! They murder Caesar!'" three times in her sleep, the day before Caesar's death. This and strange occurrences such as a lioness whelping in the streets of Rome,"Fierce fiery warriors" fighting in the clouds (Act II, Scene II, Lines 12-24) and graves yawning and yielding up their dead, convince Calphurnia that her husband Julius Caesar, must stay home on the "ides of March" (the fifteenth of March). Unfortunately just as Calphurnia convinces Caesar to stay home and avoid the death that awaits him, Decius Brutus (not to be confused with Brutus), arrives at Caesar's home convincing him that these images mean that Rome will be revived by Caesar's presence at the Senate the following day. Caesar ignores his wife's pleas and meets his bloody destiny at the hands of Brutus and company the very next day.
Portia: The wife of Marcus Brutus, she tries to learn from Brutus the assassination conspiracy he is hiding from her. She is later assumed to have committed suicide at the end of the play when her death
THEMES
Role of Women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
In the play Julius Caesar William Shakespeare only includes two female characters who play relatively minor parts. Shakespeare included these characters because they bring an element of foreshadowing to the tragic events that occur in the play.
One example would be in Act II, Scene II when Caesar's wife Calpurnia foreshadows the death of her husband. She tells Caesar, "do not go forth today: call i my fear," (Act II, Scene II). In that line Calpurnia is telling Caesar not to go to the capitol that day because sh feels that something bad is going to happen to him. As we know, something bad does happen.
Another example of the female characters foreshadowing tragic events would have to be Calpurnia's dream in Act II, Scene II. "She dremt tonight she saw my statue which like a fountain with a n hundred spouts did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans come smiling and did bathe their hands in it," (Act II, Scene II). This is foreshadowing the death of Caesar in the next act. This also foreshadows when the conspirators bathe their hands in Caesar's blood after they kill him.
Another example would be the character of Portia, Brutus's wife. In Act II, Scene IV Portia attempts to see if Caesar is at the capitol and she sends Lucius to the capitol to make sure everything is fine. She tells him, "I heard a bustling rumor, like a fray, And the wind brings from the capitol," (Act II, Scene IV). She is telling Lucius that she heard a loud noise coming from the capitol that almost sounded like a riot. This foreshadows the riot that is going to break out after the Romans find out about Caesar's death.
Even though the women in Julius Caesar have minor roles in the play. They are the main characters that bring out the element of foreshadowing to the story.
Theme Of Friendship
Throughout, William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the theme of friendship would prove to be a very delicate and manipulative element. This element would be the very entity that would seal Julius Caesar's fate. Brutus, Decius, and all the other conspirators would use this to their power, and to Julius's weakness. Friendship was used as a cover to blind Julius from the truth, from the plots against him. Flattery along with manipulation was used as a way of persuasion to soothe any feelings of doubt or weariness. These essentials would gain trust, the key to all friendships. This trust would be lost and transform into betrayal. Even though Caesar was plotted against and murdered by the likes of Brutus and Cassius, friendship still proved a strong theme because it would cloke the conspirators intentions. Julius was vulnerable to the power of friendship and was blinded by the shrewd ways of Decius, Brutus, and all the other conspirators.
Decius uses flattery and persuasion to form a strong union with Caesar. Decius is an active member of the Conspirators, so he is very motivated into getting Caesar to go to the Senate House. The first thing that Decius says when he walks into Caesar's house is "Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar." Decius would also refer to Caesar as "most mighty". This would only make Caesar grow comfortable with Decius. Julius had lost all feelings of doubt and did not presume any caste of dire plot against him. Decius would deceive Julius into thinking that they had a resilient friendship by using his devious words. Caesar was not able to foresee his true faithful friends, such as Antony. He would grieve the killing of Julius and try to justify his murder by killing Brutus and Cassius. Antony was one of Julius's true and trustworthy friends.
The conspirators had planned the death of Julius. Brutus and Cassius, along with Decius, knew they had draw in to Caesar close. Proving Caesar that they had a firm friendship, that would solidify their situation and leave Julius completely sightless to his doomed fate. Caesar's wife Calphurnia would have a dream. She would see Caesar's statue run with blood and men with swords surrounding him. This event would alarm Julius making him weary. Decius would asses Calphurnia's dream. Using his quick wit, he would distort Calphurnia's foreshadowing dream by stating that it was simply miss-interpreted. He explains that the dream "Signifies that from (Caesar) Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance" Caesar seems to be amazed by this version of the interpretation. This would be a key point in the play because this vision made by Decius would capture
Caesar's gullible mind, and the conspirators would gain Julius's trust; therefore gain his friendship as well.
Antony would prove to be crafty with his actions and words towards Brutus and the conspirators. He would deceive Brutus and the other conspirators with his keen wit and his sweet talk to gain their reliance and friendship. Antony was angered by the death of Caesar because he was a true friend to Julius. He would mourn Caesar's death. After a brief minute of expressing sorrow, Antony would state "Friend am I with you all, and love you all" Antony is using these cunning words to manipulate Brutus, he would say this so he could persuade Brutus and put his doubts at ease. Antony asks to give the tribute at Caesar's funeral, and Brutus agrees without any hesitation. Antony then gets up to the stage and uses his witty charm and wise words. He starts off with "You gentle Romans, Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." Antony would manipulate and persuade the whole crowd of plebeians to despise Brutus. This betrayal was all led from the murder of Julius. Antony and Brutus would only go to war.
Friendship would unfold throughout the whole play. There would be many persuasive and manipulating moments. Caesar's weakness of flattery and manipulation would let him be blinded by friendship, it would be his character flaw and downfall. Trust was very fragile and the key to friendship, and in some cases it was easily gained. Brutus and Cassius were very persuasive and clever in their ways of plotting against Caesar. Antony, who was Caesar's true friend in all of the conspiracy, would gain Brutus's trust only to betray him and justify Julius's murder. All of these men would be fooled or betrayed by the manipulation of trust and friendship.
The Use of Suspense in Julius Caesar
Suspense can be defined as the uncertainties the reader feels about what will happen next in a story, or in this case, a play. William Shakespeare incorporated in Julius Caesar three very suspenseful events on which the whole play depends.
The first suspenseful event of this play occurs when the conspirators
join and discuss their reasons for assassination. Cassius feels that he is
equal to Caesar, if not even better that him. Shakespeare builds suspense by using this statement made by Cassius: "I was born free as Caesar.../we both have fed as well, and we can both / endure the winter's cold as well as he." Then cassius tries to persuade Brutes to join in on the conspiracy by telling him that it would be honorable to assassinate Caesar. Cassius tells Brutes that the fate of Rome is in trouble with Caesar in power, which helps build suspense early in the play. To convince Brutes conclusively, cassius forged letters and threw them into Brutus's window where he was sure to find them. Shakespeare wrote this statement: "we will awake him and be sure of him. This is a very powerful statement that builds suspense because the reader most likely feels that Brutes will join in and want to assassinate Caesar, yet the reader is uncertain as to whether or not the plan will work. These events are very suspenseful as they lead up to the assassination of Caesar.
The next series of suspenseful events that foreshadow Caesar's
assassination happen on a very unusual night. One night before Caesar's death there were many strange occurrences the foreshadows darkness in the future. A lioness gave birth in the streets, the dead rose from their graves, fiery worriers fought in the clouds so fiercely that blood drizzled upon the capitol, horses neighed, dying men groaned, and ghosts shrieked and squealed along the streets; all events of this strange night that Shakespeare makes so suspenseful. Also on this unusual nigh, Calpurnia had a very frightening dream that was very suspenseful. The dream was of Caesar's statue emitting blood and many Romans were bathing in it. When the reader reads this he is "on the edge of his seat" finding that he cannot wait to find out what this dream foreshadows. Calpurnia was so frightened by these strange occurrences that she begged Caesar not to leave the house. Shakespeare created suspense by having Caesar speak these words: "and these does she apply for warnings and portents / and evils imminent, and on her knee / hath begged that I will stay at home today." These events add suspense while foreshadowing the climax of the play, Caesar's death, which occurs in act iii.
The next suspenseful part of the play occurs after Caesar is
assassinated and the reader is left to find out what will happen as the play progresses. After killing Caesar, the conspirators feel that they have created a better place to live. Shakespeare writes, "liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about in the streets." As the conspirators soon found out, the people of Rome are panic-stricken because of the assassination, not grateful. Trebonius speads these words that are very suspenseful because the reader wanders what will result of the reaction of the people: "men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run / as it were doomsday." After the assassination of Caesar, Antony begins to show his feelings and becomes very dangerous, as cassius feared. Antony's soliloquy reveals that he seeks revenge and will wage war on the conspirators. He will cry havoc and have dead and rotting men lying unburied. These events are suspenseful as they foreshadow the extreme political conflicts to come.
The three events were very effective methods of adding suspense to the play. Shakespeare has the reader constantly wandering what will happen further along in the play. The play ends after order is restored. Will it remain that way, or will history repeat itself and more political conflicts erupt.
The Role of the Mob in Julius Caesar
The most important characters of the play Julius Caesar are clearly the citizens of Rome. The citizens have an important effect on both the audience and the characters in the play because of their unlimited desire to passionately express their emotions. Throughout the play these emotions are communicated through various events.
The first event is the celebration of the feast of the Lupercal. It was the citizens’ positive reaction to Caesar during his triumphant return after his victory over the sons of Pompey that fuelled the fear of Caesar’s becoming king. The citizens’ opposition to Pompey’s allies caused great disturbances in the streets because a short while before, Pompey was their hero. Now Caesar, victorious, is the hero of the hour. Their response also influenced the idea that Caesar was becoming too ambitious. Thus, the citizens of Rome had a role in the fate of Julius Caesar.
A later example occurs during the funeral oration by Mark Antony. Brutus logically gives his reasons that necessitated Caesar’s death. He informs them that he acted out of love of Rome and his desire to prevent tyrants from controlling her. The citizens embrace his words with cheers and understanding. However, their mood alters when Antony offers his interpretation of the situation. He passionately described the deeds Caesar performed in behalf of the citizens of Rome, which clearly contradict the opinion of the conspirators that Caesar was too ambitious. Antony carefully uses irony in referring to Cassius and Brutus as honourable men; the strategy wins over the citizens and they listen with growing anger to his words. He leads the citizens to the body and begins to show the brutal results of the murder while simultaneously influencing them to believe that the conspirators are murderers and traitors. Ultimately, Antony reads Caesar’s will, which leaves his parks, private estates, and newly planted gardens to the citizens of Rome. His final gesture, naming Cassius and Brutus as traitors to Rome, overwhelmed the people with grief, despair, and anger for their “beloved” Caesar’s death.
Though the citizens are important characters in the play, they are also unreliable and fickle in supporting the latest and most impassioned plea for their “ears.” Thus, we witness the irrational behaviour of citizens-to-mob who think only to benefit themselves.
The Speeches
In Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony, both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar, each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a somewhat arrogant, to the point, eulogy, attempts to sway the people. He justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in Antony's eulogy, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar. The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators.
Brutus seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He begins his speech with "Romans, countrymen ...” appealing to their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later says, will benefit as freeman with Caesar's death. This shows that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their better judgment as Romans. He declares that he is an honourable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the validity of his claims. That is, he will allow the truth to speak for itself. This encourages the crowd to believe him, as an honourable man. He says that he wants them to know the facts; "Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge." Sharing information with the people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance. He gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring the people to find anyone who loved Caesar more.
Brutus declares that he never wronged Caesar that he cried for Caesar's love, was happy for his greatness, honoured him for his courage, but had to kill him because of Caesar's ambition. He says that the reason for killing Caesar was his great love for Rome. He justifies his actions by saying that he loved Caesar but, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." He then asks rhetorically if the people would want to live their lives as slaves under Caesar's rule or would they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead. To anyone insulted by his speech he wonders if, as Romans who love their freedom, they could be offended or reject what he, Brutus, says. He poses the question, "Who is here so base that would be a bondman?" He stresses the point, repeating the line, "If any, speak, for him have I offended." "I pause for a reply.” allows them to respond to his rhetorical questions, giving them an even greater sense that he cares about them and their opinions. They can only respond, " None, Brutus, none." That is, none are offended; they do not disagree or argue with his words or his actions.
Mark Antony's eulogy utilizes a different approach. He starts out by addressing the crowd as "Friends" because he wants to come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to gain power. He then says, "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.", thus he can ease in praises of Caesar without the crowd stopping him. He sounds very sincere when he says, "The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious.... For Brutus is an honourable man." He repeats that statement three more times becoming increasingly sarcastic, saying finally, "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he was an honourable man." Since the people responded positively to Brutus' speech, Antony could not insult Brutus' honesty in a direct manner. Yet, Antony disproves Caesar's ambition with three examples. One is when he gave the ransom of captives to the public treasury and not his own, another when he cried with the poor people, and finally when he refused the kingship that Antony offered him, three times. Anyone who was ambitious would never have done any such things. Antony says, "I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke.”, but that is exactly what he does.
Antony is using a dramatic effect on the people, first by entering on the stage with the body of Caesar, and at the end stating that his heart is still with the body of Caesar, ending his speech weeping. In justifying Caesar and disproving Brutus, the people see Antony as a potential successor to Caesar. They are swayed to him by his dramatics, his underhanded way of making a point, his repetition, and compelling proof of Caesar's concern. He is able to get the people to question the rightness of killing Caesar. He has planted doubt in the people's minds, in all areas except that he, Antony, is, "poor soul", an honourable.
The difference between the eulogies shows us the importance of style of speech. Both try to appeal to the people, and both use repetition, but Brutus takes a defensive approach, leaving the people to their own conclusions. However, Antony takes a prosecuting approach against Brutus, so sneaky that it is almost subliminal. Furthermore, Antony's examples give him an advantage over Brutus because he backs up statements while Brutus leaves his statements more open-ended. The people seem to find it easier to accept Antony, an emotional and sincere speaker, than Brutus who appears arrogant and forceful.
