Character Sketch from ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 of Portia, Lucius and the Soothsayer
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Portia, Lucius and the Soothsayer from ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4.
- Character Sketch of Portia
- Questions related to the Character of Portia
- Character Sketch of Lucius
- Questions related to the character of Lucius
- Character Sketch of the Soothsayer
- Questions related to the character of the Soothsayer
Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 4 Question Answers
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
Character Sketch of Portia
Portia is the most prominent character in this scene, and her actions reveal her deep anxiety and concern for her husband, Brutus. She knows about the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar and is terrified of what might happen to her husband. Her mind is racing, and she is overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness. She is torn between her knowledge of the dangerous plot and her inability to do anything about it. She expresses this internal conflict by saying she has ‘a man’s mind but a woman’s might’, meaning she has the courage and intellect of a man but is limited by her status as a woman in Roman society. Her frantic commands to Lucius, her servant, show her high-strung emotional state. She nearly faints from the stress and has to invent a reason for her strange behavior to avoid revealing the secret. Her main goal in this scene is to get information about her husband and to ensure his safety without exposing the conspiracy.
Questions related to the Character of Portia
Q1. How does Portia show her concern for Brutus?
Q2. Describe Portia’s character.
Character Sketch of Lucius
Lucius is Portia’s young servant. He is a minor character who mainly serves to highlight Portia’s emotional turmoil. He is completely unaware of the conspiracy and the reason for Portia’s distress. When Portia gives him confusing and contradictory orders, he responds with simple, straightforward questions. He doesn’t hear the noises that Portia hears, which shows that her fear and anxiety are causing her to imagine things. He is a loyal servant who tries his best to follow his mistress’s strange commands, running back and forth between her and the Capitol. His presence in the scene emphasizes Portia’s isolation and her inability to confide in anyone about her secret.
Questions related to the Character of Lucius
Q1. What task does Lucius perform at the order of Portia?
Q2. Describe Lucius.
Character Sketch of the Soothsayer
The Soothsayer is a mysterious and prophetic character. He is the same man who earlier warned Caesar to ‘beware the Ides of March’. In this scene, he appears briefly, on his way to see Caesar pass by. He speaks in riddles, telling Portia that he fears harm ‘may chance’ to Caesar, but he doesn’t know for sure. He seems genuinely concerned about Caesar’s well-being and intends to try and warn him again. His presence adds to the sense of foreboding and suspense in the scene. He acts as a messenger of fate, reinforcing the idea that a tragic event is about to happen, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.
Questions related to the Character of the Soothsayer
Q1. What does the soothsayer tell Portia?
Q2. Where is the soothsayer going?