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A Poison Tree

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Main Characters

Julius Caesar- He is the emperor of Rome. He is the only capable of giving order in the beginning, but as time progresses, the conspirators view him as an evil tyrant. He is superstitious, imperious, and easily flattered. He is assassinated at the Ides of March, and his spirit haunts the remainder of the play. Both Cassius and Brutus invoke his name before they commit suicide in the final acts.

Marcus Brutus- He is a noble Roman who is a close personal friend to Caesar in the beginning. He is an idealist who upholds above everything else. He decides to join the conspiracy after realizing Caesar is going to become an evil tyrant to the state of Rome. He defeats wins his first battle at Philippi against Octavius Caesar but loses his second and decides to commit suicide.

Cassius- Julius Caesar's political foe. He is the main conspirator who organizes Caesar's death and convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy. He commits suicide at the battle of Philippi after falsely thinking his army has been defeated.

Mark Antony- He is a devoted friend and follower of Caesar. He offers Caesar the crown three times at the Feast of Lupercal. Deceiving the conspirator of his approval to Caesar's death, he goes against the conspirators to revenge Caesar's death. His speech at Caesar's funeral caused riots in Rome. He is one of the triumvirs who defeats both Cassius and Brutus on the battlefield of Philippi. He is a ruler after Caesar's death.

Calpurnia- She is the wife of Julius Caesar. On the day of the Ides of March, she urges Caesar to stay home because of her disturbing dream of Caesar being murdered. Caesar ignores her and goes to the Senate House.

Portia- She is the wife of Brutus. She stabs herself in the thigh to show her strength and courage to Brutus in order for him to tell the plot to killing Caesar. She kills herself by swallowing coal after the triumvirs assume power.

Triumvirs

Octavius Caesar- He is Caesar's adopted son. He is one of the triumvirs who seek revenge against Brutus and Cassius after Caesar's death. He is a ruler of Rome after Caesar's death. M. Aemil.

Lepidus- He is the third triumvir who helps defeat Brutus and Cassius. Although he is weak, he is the other ruler of Rome after Caesar's death.

Senators

Cicero- He is a senator and orator of Rome. He tells Casca that men can change omens to suit their own needs. The triumvirs kill him when they purge the Senate.

Publius- He is an elderly Senator who escorts Caesar to the Senate House on the Ides of March. He is shocked by the death of Caesar.

Popilius Lena- A senator who makes Cassius and Brutus fear punishment when they assassinate Caesar.

Conspirators

Casca- He joins the conspirators on the night before the assassination and is the first conspirator to stab Caesar on the Ides of March. He changes his appearance in order to deceive people.

Trebonius- He agrees with Brutus to spare Antony because of his noble attitude. He takes Antony out of the Senate House before Caesar's death.

Caius Ligarius- The last one to join the conspiracy but has had a long time hatred towards Caesar.

Decius Brutus- He misinterprets Calpurnia's dream in order to convinces Caesar to go to the Senate House on the Ides of March.

Metallus Cimber- Pleads to Caesar to repeal the banishment of his brother in order to distract Caesar's attention so that the conspirators can stab him.

Cinna- He urges Cassius to bring Brutus into the conspirators. He helps give the message to Brutus saying that he should join the conspiracy.

Tribunes

Flavius and Marullus- They begin the play telling all the people why they are celebrating Caesar's victory over the Great Pompey's sons.

Friends to Brutus and Cassius

Lucilius- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' Army. Antony likes his nobility and loyalty towards Brutus and decided to keep him instead of killing him.

Titinius- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' army. He kills himself when he sees Cassius dead on the battlefield.

Messala- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' army. He reports Portia's death to Brutus and later discovers Cassius dead body.

Young Cato- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' army. He is Portia's brother and dies by trying to tell all the other soldiers that he is the son of Marcus Cato.

Volumnius- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' army. He refuses to hold the sword for Brutus to impale himself on.

Servants to Brutus

Varro- He is a servant to Brutus. He does not see Caesar's ghost while talking to Brutus.

Clitus- He is a servant to Brutus. He refuses to kill Brutus at Philippi.

Claudius- He is a servant to Brutus. He does not see Caesar's ghost while talking to Brutus.

Strato- He is an officer and soldier in Brutus' army. He holds the sword so Brutus can impale himself on it.

Lucius- He is a servant to Brutus.

Dardanius-He is a servant to Brutus. He refuses to kill Brutus at Philippi

General Characters

Pindarus- He makes the mistake of telling Cassius (his master) that Titinius was captured, when in fact he was rejoicing. This simple error results in Cassius' desire to die, and Pindarus follows his orders when Cassius asks him to kill him. Pindarus then flees.

Artemidorus of Cnidos- He is a teacher who gives Caesar a letter as the emperor enters the Capitol. He tries to tell Caesar that the conspirators are plotting to kill him, but Caesar ignores him.

Cinna the poet- He is killed on the way to attend Caesar's funeral because the mob that were planning to kill the conspirators thought he was Cinna the conspirator.

A Soothsayer- He warns Caesar several times of his death, but Caesar neglects to hear him.

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