# The Republic — Character guide

> Key figures in The Republic by Plato.

- [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/socrates.md): The narrator and main philosophical protagonist of the dialogue, who leads the discussion on justice and the ideal state.
- [Glaucon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/glaucon.md): Brother of Adeimantus and a primary interlocutor of Socrates; he is an active participant in the philosophical debate.
- [Adeimantus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/adeimantus.md): Brother of Glaucon and another key participant in the dialogue, who challenges Socrates on various points.
- [Polemarchus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/polemarchus.md): Son of Cephalus; he meets Socrates and Glaucon and persuades them to come to his house, initiating the dialogue.
- [Cephalus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/cephalus.md): An elderly, wealthy metic (resident alien) and father of Polemarchus; the dialogue takes place in his house.
- [Thrasymachus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/thrasymachus.md): A sophist from Chalcedon who aggressively argues that justice is nothing but the advantage of the stronger.
- [Cleitophon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/cleitophon.md): A minor interlocutor present at the discussion, who briefly interjects in support of Thrasymachus.
- [Niceratus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/niceratus.md): Son of Nicias; he is among the group that joins Polemarchus and accompanies Socrates to Cephalus's house.
- [Lysias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/lysias.md): Brother of Polemarchus, present at the house but does not participate significantly in the philosophical discussion.
- [Euthydemus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/euthydemus.md): Brother of Polemarchus, present at the house but remains a mute auditor during the dialogue.
- [Charmantides](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters/charmantides.md): A Paeanian who is present at Cephalus's house but does not speak in the dialogue.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/1497/characters