Marcus Antonius, is a deuteragonist and Cleopatra’s second great love, serving as her partner in the latter half of the novel. He is presented as a passionate, charismatic, and hedonistic figure, a stark contrast to the more pragmatic Julius Caesar. Cleopatra herself aligns him with the god Dionysus, a comparison that captures his love for pleasure, wine, and grand emotional displays. His love for Cleopatra is immediate and overwhelming, a “scalding, breathless sort of love” (269) that defines his actions and leads to his downfall. He is a dynamic character, as his devotion to Cleopatra causes him to progressively abandon his duties to Rome, creating a fatal conflict with Octavian.

Antonius’s defining trait is his unwavering loyalty to those he loves, evident first in his initial grief and anger over Caesar’s assassination and later in his complete dedication to Cleopatra and their children. He readily grants her the spoils of his military campaigns, declares their children heirs to vast territories, and publicly proclaims her “Queen of Kings” (296). This devotion, however, is also his tragic flaw. By prioritizing his love for Cleopatra over his political obligations in Rome, he provides Octavian with the propaganda necessary to turn the senate and the Roman people against him. His relationship with Cleopatra is one of equal partnership, both romantically and militarily. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he respects her intelligence and strategic mind, treating her as a co-commander during their war against Octavian. Yet, their love also makes them both vulnerable. His decision to take his own life based on the false report of Cleopatra’s death is the ultimate testament to their bond, a final, tragic act driven by love.

Julius Caesar is a pivotal secondary character who acts as Cleopatra’s political ally, lover, and mentor during her early reign. Portrayed as a brilliant strategist, a pragmatic politician, and a man of immense authority, Caesar is the force that solidifies Cleopatra’s unstable claim to the Egyptian throne. Their relationship is initially a transactional alliance, as Cleopatra observes, “He wanted my coin, I wanted my crown” (107). However, it quickly evolves into a partnership based on mutual intellectual respect and genuine affection.

Caesar is one of the few men who does not underestimate Cleopatra; he recognizes her intelligence and political acumen, valuing her counsel and treating her as an equal. Caesar serves as a mentor figure, guiding Cleopatra through the treacherous politics of her own court and providing her with the military might needed to defeat her siblings’ rebellion. His character is relatively static; he remains a self-assured, powerful Roman leader whose primary motivations are the expansion and stabilization of his own power. Yet, he is also depicted with moments of emotional depth, particularly in his grief for his deceased daughter, Julia, and his immediate love for his son, Caesarion. His assassination is a critical turning point in the novel, forcing Cleopatra to flee Rome and altering the political landscape. His death leaves a void in Cleopatra’s life, and his legacy becomes a central point of contention, as his declared heir, Octavian, works to erase Caesarion from the line of succession, setting the stage for the final conflict of Cleopatra’s reign.

Arsinoe, Cleopatra’s younger sister, serves as the primary antagonist for the first half of the novel. She is a dynamic character who evolves from a petulant and often cruel sibling into a cunning and ambitious political rival. Her core motivation is a deep-seated jealousy of Cleopatra and a desperate desire “to be seen” (87) and recognized as powerful in her own right. Arsinoe feels overlooked and underestimated, a grievance that festers and drives her to align with Cleopatra’s enemies, first Pothinus and later the Roman conspirators Cassius and Brutus.

Arsinoe serves as a direct foil to Cleopatra, representing a different form of female power. While Cleopatra learns to wield intelligence and diplomacy, Arsinoe relies on overt aggression, manipulation, and betrayal. Her divine gift from the god Thoth, the ability to communicate with birds through her ibis, Qar, becomes a tool for espionage, allowing her to spy on Cleopatra and gain strategic advantages. Arsinoe’s ambition is ruthless and absolute. She is instrumental in fomenting a civil war, spreading rumors that undermine Cleopatra’s authority, and attempting to seize the throne for herself and her brother, Theos. Pushing Theos into the sea where he is weighed down by armor demonstrates her willingness to sacrifice even her allies for her own advancement. Though she is eventually defeated and exiled, her influence lingers, as she continues to plot against Cleopatra from afar, representing a persistent threat of betrayal until Cleopatra eventually orders her execution.

Charmion serves as Cleopatra’s handmaiden, most trusted confidante, lover, and lifelong companion. She is a static but round character, defined by her unwavering loyalty and deep, abiding love for Cleopatra. From childhood, their bond is described as “celestial, greater than the two parts of us” (11), a connection that transcends their differing social statuses. Charmion acts as Cleopatra’s emotional anchor, providing comfort, counsel, and a sense of stability amidst the political turmoil and personal betrayals that define Cleopatra’s life.

While Cleopatra is often swept up in grand political schemes and passionate emotions, Charmion remains pragmatic and grounded, often acting as the voice of reason. Her devotion is absolute, as demonstrated when she willingly impersonates Cleopatra and faces almost-certain death to allow her queen to escape into Alexandria. This act of sacrifice cements their bond, which Cleopatra describes as being “forever bound in skin and thread” (56). Charmion is fiercely protective, not only of Cleopatra’s life but also of her emotional well-being and her legacy. She is one of the few characters who sees Cleopatra in her entirety, beyond the titles of pharaoh or the labels of history. In the end, her loyalty extends to death, as she chooses to die alongside Cleopatra, refusing to be parted from her even in their final moments.

Pothinus, a eunuch who serves as regent to Cleopatra’s younger brother, Theos, acts as an early antagonist in the novel. He is a flat and static character, driven entirely by his ambition to wield power through the young king. From the moment Cleopatra takes the throne, Pothinus works to undermine her authority, viewing her as an obstacle to his control over Egypt. Pothinus represents the insidious nature of court politics, and the internal threats Cleopatra must overcome to secure her reign.

El-Arifi characterizes Pothinus as a shrewd political operator who uses rumor and propaganda to turn the court and the public against Cleopatra, foregrounding his use of Misogyny as a Political Tool in a Patriarchal Society. His alliance with Arsinoe is a pragmatic one, as he recognizes her ambition and sees her as another tool to depose Cleopatra. His eventual assassination by Caesar marks the end of the first major challenge to Cleopatra’s rule, clearing the way for her to consolidate power. His actions set the stage for the larger civil war to come.

Ptolemy XIII, whom Cleopatra calls Mikro Theos or Theos, is her younger brother and co-ruler. He serves as a minor antagonist but is largely a tragic figure, acting as a pawn in the power struggles between more ambitious characters. As a young boy, Theos is easily manipulated first by his regent, Pothinus, and later by his sister, Arsinoe. His desire to be seen as a true ruler rather than a child is his primary motivation, but he lacks the cunning or strength to achieve political power on his own. He’s susceptible to the influence of those who promise him sole power.

His divine gift, the ability to breathe underwater, is a significant part of his identity but ultimately becomes the instrument of his cruel and unusual demise. When Arsinoe pushes him into the sea, his heavy gold armor traps him at the bottom of the bay, turning his blessing into a curse. Theos’s character illustrates the vulnerability of inherited power and serves as a casualty of the ruthless ambition that defines the Ptolemaic dynasty.