Marcus –We first see a man as he walks from his home. He
walks up the hill behind his home to think. The sun has just started to rise
and he is relieved to see the light. He was tossing and turning all night
because of the stress of the mounting tensions in his country. He is trying to
organize his thoughts and emotions about the conflict among the people. He
cares very much for his children and wife. His father was a senator but he has
never wished to be part of political system. His family doesn’t come from much
money but they do have significant political influence. He has been raised to
value his country and is a true Roman citizen. With his father as an example he
saw at young age the importance of serving in the military however his father
was killed in battle. With the loss of his father at a very young age it makes
him understand the importance of being involved in his own children’s lives. As
he continues his walk he is trying to determine if his need to serve in the
military and his need to be a good Roman citizen is worth the risk of his
children growing up without a father.
Julia – She awakes and realizes that her husband is gone. It
doesn’t faze her at first but then realizes that he must be worried about
something and has gone for a walk in the morning light. She rises and selects a
beautiful stola with particularly expensive and beautiful brooches. She emits a
grace in her manor and behavior that only a daughter of a senator could. She
has been raises to be the perfect mother wife and daughter at all times. She
was never allowed to misbehave or create a scene, she has to be the picture of perfection
at all times. She has learned and come to respect the role that she has to play
in public but at home she is very out spoken and wishes to be involved in the
decision making. She selected her own husband and convinced her father to make
him an offer by pointing out the how much of an asset his family would be. She
would never allow anyone outside of her husband and children to know that she
selected him and that she was involved in the decision making, it was very
unorthodox for women to have any sort of power even over her own family.
