Character Sketch of Brutus, Strato, Mark Antony, Volumnius, Octavius, Clitus and Dardanus | Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5

by | Oct 25, 2025 | General | 0 comments

Julius Caesar Act-5-Scene-5 Ch-Sktech

 

Character Sketch from ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5 of Brutus, Strato, Mark Antony, Volumnius, Octavius, Clitus and Dardanus

 

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 Brutus, Strato, Mark Antony, Volumnius, Octavius, Clitus and Dardanus from ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 5.

 

 

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Character Sketch of Brutus

Brutus is presented in this scene as a noble but utterly defeated tragic hero. He is resigned to his fate, understanding that ‘my hour is come’ and that the ghost of Caesar has had its revenge. His primary concern is not to save his life, but to preserve his honor and avoid the humiliation of capture. This is evident in his repeated, failed attempts to convince his friends Clitus, Dardanus, Volumnius to assist his suicide, highlighting his commitment to the Roman ideal of suicide over subjugation. Despite his political failure, he finds profound comfort in the loyalty of his men, asserting that he ‘found no man but he was true to me’. His final actions and words, a quiet plea to Strato and the final address to Caesar’s spirit, underscore his virtue and place him as a man driven by idealism rather than malice, solidifying his status as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’.

 

Questions related to the Character of Brutus

Q1. How does the ghost of Caesar take revenge from Brutus?
Q2. What attempts are made by Brutus to save his honour?

 

Character Sketch of Strato

Strato, though a minor character, plays a crucial role as Brutus’s most faithful final attendant. Initially asleep, he quickly shows himself to be a man of courage and honor upon waking. Unlike the others, he is willing to participate in the act of suicide, but only after treating it as a solemn, respectful final duty, requesting a handshake before holding the sword. His calm, matter-of-fact responses to Messala and Octavius after Brutus’s death demonstrate an unwavering loyalty, stating proudly that Brutus is ‘Free from the bondage you are in’. Strato’s actions provide the necessary, final service for the tragic hero, confirming the purity of Brutus’s spirit.

 

Questions related to the Character of Strato

Q1. How does Strato show his faithfulness for Brutus?
Q2. Why does Strato agree to participate in the suicide?

 

Character Sketch of Mark Antony

Mark Antony makes his final, definitive statement in this scene, culminating his journey from vengeful orator to magnanimous statesman. His famous eulogy for Brutus is a display of his rhetorical power and a strategic act of final judgment. By declaring Brutus ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ and distinguishing him from the other envious conspirators, Antony not only pays a sincere tribute to Brutus’s virtue but also subtly solidifies his own position as a wise and generous victor, one who can appreciate honor even in a fallen foe.

 

Questions related to the Character of Mark Antony

Q1. What eulogy does mark make for Brutus?
Q2. Why does Antony pay a tribute to Brutus?

 

Character Sketch of Volumnius

Volumnius is defined by his long-standing, honorable friendship with Brutus. Brutus appeals to him using their shared history, ‘Thou know’st that we two went to school together’ to request assistance in his suicide. Volumnius refuses not out of lack of loyalty, but on a point of honor, stating plainly, ‘That’s not an office for a friend, my lord’. His refusal is respectful and grounded in a different code of conduct, emphasizing his reluctance to let his friendship be stained by an act of death, though he remains with Brutus longer than the others before the imminent threat forces his exit.


 

 

Questions related to the Character of Volumnius

Q1. Who is Volumnius?
Q2. Why does Volumnius refuse to assist Brutus?

 

Character Sketch of Octavius

Octavius, the future Augustus Caesar, demonstrates the rising power of calm, practical, and merciful leadership. He is less emotional than Antony and more focused on establishing a new, stable order. He makes the practical decision to employ Brutus’s loyal servants, securing the peace and showing leniency. His command to give Brutus a proper burial ‘with all respect and rites of burial’ and to keep his bones honorably in his own tent is a calculated move that shows respect for Roman tradition and seals the reconciliation, effectively ending the civil war and beginning the new imperial age.

 

Questions related to the Character of Octavius

Q1. How is Octavius different from Antony?
Q2. How is Octavius also known as?

 

Character Sketch of Clitus and Dardanus

Clitus and Dardanus are portrayed as extremely loyal and affectionate servants, whose devotion to Brutus outweighs their obedience. When Brutus asks them to help him commit suicide, their immediate, horrified refusal shows their deep personal attachment and distress at his plight. They are heartbroken by his grief and cannot bring themselves to participate in his death. Their immediate exit from the scene underscores their inability to stand by and watch his final moments, demonstrating that their love for their master superseded the demands of service.

 

Questions related to the Character of Clitus and Dardanus

Q1. How do Clitus and Dardanus react to the request made by Brutus?
Q2. How do we see the love that these characters have for Brutus?

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