# Julius Caesar — Julius Caesar character guide

> Julius Caesar in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Caesar, great Caesar, noble Caesar, mighty Caesar, immortal Caesar

**First appearance:** 0001-act-i

## Snapshot

Rome's conquering dictator, publicly refusing a crown three times while privately wishing his fingers could stay on it, commands a city that flatters and fears him in the same breath.

## Who they are

Caesar stands at the center of Rome's political world, fresh from triumph, directing Antony to touch Calpurnia in the sacred race and dismissing a soothsayer's warning about the ides of March as the muttering of a dreamer. He reads Cassius as a lean, hungry observer who thinks too much and smiles too little, and admits that such men are never at ease while they behold a greater than themselves. His deafness in one ear, his superstition, and his appetite for ceremony make him both towering and touchable—which is exactly what makes the conspiracy against him imaginable.

## Relationships

### [Marcus Brutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/marcus_brutus)

_psychological_

Caesar trusts Brutus as a friend, but Brutus is torn between loyalty and his fear of Caesar's ambition, leading to betrayal.

### [Caius Cassius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/caius_cassius)

_rivalry_

Cassius harbors deep envy and resentment toward Caesar, viewing him as a tyrant to be overthrown.

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/lucius)

_professional_

Lucius is a servant in Caesar's household, performing duties and delivering messages.

### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/mark_antony)

_friendship_

Antony is Caesar's loyal friend and ally, supporting him politically and personally.

### [Metellus Cimber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/metellus_cimber)

_rivalry_

Metellus Cimber is a conspirator who pretends to petition Caesar before helping to assassinate him.

### [Cinna the Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/cinna_the_poet)

_social_

Cinna the Poet is an acquaintance of Caesar, but is mistaken for a conspirator and killed by the mob.

### [Cicero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/cicero)

_social_

Cicero is a respected senator and acquaintance of Caesar, though he is not directly involved in the conspiracy.

### [Caius Cassius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/caius_cassius)

_rivalry_

Cassius harbors deep envy and resentment toward Caesar, viewing him as a tyrant to be overthrown.

### [Marcus Brutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/marcus_brutus)

_psychological_

Caesar trusts Brutus as a friend, but Brutus is torn between loyalty and his fear of Caesar's ambition, leading to betrayal.

### [Caius Cassius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/caius_cassius)

_rivalry_

Cassius harbors deep envy and resentment toward Caesar, viewing him as a tyrant to be overthrown.

### [Marcus Brutus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/marcus_brutus)

_psychological_

Caesar trusts Brutus as a friend, but Brutus is torn between loyalty and his fear of Caesar's ambition, leading to betrayal.

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/lucius)

_professional_

Lucius is a servant in Caesar's household, performing duties and delivering messages.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Caesar observes Cassius warily, noting his 'lean and hungry look,' and publicly refuses the crown three times before swooning.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Defiantly insists on going to the Senate despite Calpurnia's fears, but is swayed by Decius's flattery.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

The target of the conspiracy; Artemidorus hopes to warn him of the danger.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Assassinated by the conspirators in the Senate.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Deceased; his body and will are used by Antony to sway public opinion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters/julius_caesar
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/julius_caesar_se/characters