Julius Caesar

Characters:

• Brutus 
• supporter of republic who believes strongly in a government guided by the votes of senators
• kills Caesar out of belief of its benefit to Rome
• Julius Caesar
• Roman general and senator
• Antony
• friend of Caesar
• claims allegiance to Brutus and conspirators of Caesar after Caesar's death in order to save his own life
• however persuades audience at Caesar's funeral to condemn Brutus as a traitor
• Cassius
• acquaintance of Caesar
• dislikes how Caesar has become godlike in the eyes of the Romans
• convinces Brutus to kill Caesar
• Octavius
• Caesar's adopted son and appointed successor
• joins with Antony to fight Cassius and Brutus
• Casca
• public figure opposed to Caesar's power
• Calpurnia
• Caesar's wife
• believes in omens and portents
• Portia
• Brutus's wife
• Flavius
• a tribune (official elected by people to protect their rights)
• Cicero
• Roman senator renowned for oratorical skill
• speaks at Caesar's victory parade
• dies at the order of Antony, Octavius and Lepidus
• Lepidus
• third member of Antony and Octavius's coalition
• Murellus
• tribune who condemns plebeians for their fickleness
• Decius
• member of the conspiracy
• convinces Caesar that Calpurnia has misinterpreted her nightmares

Plot summary:

• Flavius and Murellus find Roman citizens neglecting their work to watch Caesar's victory parade.
• A soothsayer calls out to Caesar to "beware the ides of March" but Caesar ignores him.
• Brutus confesses to Cassius that he fears Caesar will become a king at the will of the people. Cassius blames him and himself for allowing Caesar's rise to power, given that once Caesar was so physically weak. 
• Caesar tells Antony that he deeply distrusts Cassius
• Casca tells Brutus and Cassius that during the celebration, Caesar refused Antony's three offers for the crown of Rome. Even though Caesar had a seizure and fell to the ground the Roman populace nonetheless cheered him on.
• Cassius hatches a plot to draw Brutus into a conspiracy against Caesar.
• Brutus finds letters in his house from citizens apparently concerned about Caesar becoming too powerful. The letters were actually forged and planted by Cassius.
• Cassius arrives at Brutus's home and Brutus agrees to a plan to lure Caesar from his house and kill him. Brutus refuses to kill Antony as well.
• Calpurnia pleads with Caesar not to go to the senate - she describes a nightmare she had in which a statue of Caesar was streaming with blood and smiling men bathed their hands in the blood. Although Calpurnia finally convinces him to stay at home, Decius arrives and convinces Caesar that his wife has misinterpreted her dreams. Caesar leaves for the Senate.
• The soothsayer tries to warn Caesar again but fails to get his attention. A citizen, Artemidorus, hands Caesar a letter warning him about the conspirators but Caesar refuses to read it. 
• At the Senate, the conspirators encircle Caesar and one by one, stab him to death. When Caesar sees Brutus amongst the murderers, he gives up struggling and dies. The murderers bathe their hand and swords in Caesar's blood. 
• Antony returns and pledges allegiance to Brutus but weeps over Caesar's body. He then asks for permission to speak at Caesar's funeral. Brutus grants him permission even though Cassius remains suspicious of Antony. When the conspirators leave, Antony swears to avenge Caesar's death.
• Brutus and Cassius speak to the public at the Forum and explain that they murdered Caesar to prevent him from being a danger to Roman liberty. 
• Brutus then turns the pulpit over to Antony who reminds the crowd how Caesar brought wealth and glory to Rome. He then describes Caesar's death and shows Caesar's wounded body to the crowd. He also reads Caesar's will which left money to every citizen and ordered his gardens to be made public.
• The public becomes enraged at Brutus and Cassius and set off to drive them from the city.
• Octavius arrives in Rome and forms a coalition with Antony and Lepidus. They prepare to fight Cassius and Brutus, who are raising an army in exile.
• At their camp, Brutus and Cassius argue about money and honor, and Brutus reveals that he is grieving for the death of Portia, who killed herself. That night, the Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus and announces that he will meet him again on the battlefield.
• On the day of the battle, Octavius ignores Antony's advice on where to attack, thus asserting his power as Caesar's heir.
• Cassius sees his men fleeing and sends Pindarus to see how matters are progressing. Pindarus sees Titinius, Cassius's best friend, surrounded by cheering troops and concludes that Titinius has been captured. Cassius despairs and orders Pindarus to kill him. Titinius then arrives - the cheering men were actually his comrades. Titinius sees Cassius's corpse and kills himself.
• Brutus learns of the deaths of Cassius and Titinius. When his army loses, Brutus impales himself on his own sword. 
• Octavius and Antony arrive, and Antony says Brutus was the nobles Roman of all, as he genuinely acted for the benefit of Rome. Octavius orders Brutus be given an honorable funeral.