Poetry · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Poetry by William Shakespeare.
Adonis
major
Also known as young Adonis, Anon Adonis, Anon, Adon
A beautiful youth loved by Venus, who meets a tragic end while hunting.
Venus
major
Also known as XI Venus
The goddess of love, who passionately pursues Adonis.
Lucrece
major
Also known as Poor Lucrece, sweet Lucrece, Lucretia, Harmless Lucretia
A virtuous Roman wife whose rape by Tarquin leads to her suicide.
Tarquin
major
Also known as Lust - breathed Tarquin, Lust, Enchanted Tarquin, Sextus Tarquinius, Lucius Tarquinius
The lustful prince who rapes Lucrece, sparking a political revolt.
Collatine
supporting
Also known as quoth Collatine
Lucrece's husband, whose boasting about her virtue incites Tarquin's crime.
Collatinus
supporting
A Roman nobleman and relative of Lucrece, present at the discovery of her rape.
Junius Brutus
supporting
Also known as Brutus
A Roman leader who vows revenge and leads the uprising after Lucrece's death.
Lucretius
supporting
Also known as old Lucretius, quoth Lucretius
Lucrece's grieving father, who witnesses her suicide.
Sinon
minor
A Greek who tricked Troy with the wooden horse, used as a metaphor by Lucrece.
Priam
minor
The slain king of Troy, referenced in Lucrece's lament.
Philomela
minor
Also known as Philomel
A mythological figure who was raped and transformed into a nightingale, invoked by Lucrece.
Nestor
minor
A wise Greek elder from the Trojan War, mentioned in passing.
Cupid
minor
The god of love, appearing in Venus and Adonis.
Narcissus
minor
A youth who fell in love with his own reflection, referenced in the poem.
Jove
minor
Also known as O Jove
The king of the gods, invoked by characters in distress.
Fortune
minor
Also known as frowning Fortune, fickle Fortune
The personified goddess of luck, blamed for misfortunes.
Death
minor
Personified figure of mortality, addressed by Lucrece.
Time
minor
Personified force of change and decay, referenced in the sonnets.
Muse
minor
The poetic muse, invoked in the sonnets.
Love
minor
Personified love, a central theme in the sonnets.
Youth
minor
Personified youth, addressed in the sonnets as a fleeting beauty.
William Shakespeare
minor
Also known as Shakespeare
The author, mentioned in the endnotes or dedication.
Tereus
minor
Also known as Tereus descant'st
A mythological king who raped Philomela, referenced in the poem.
King Pandion
minor
Father of Philomela and Procne in Greek myth, mentioned briefly.
Poor Corydon
minor
A shepherd figure from pastoral poetry, referenced in The Passionate Pilgrim.
Hector
minor
Also known as bold Hector, manly Hector
A Trojan prince and warrior, mentioned in Lucrece's tapestry.
Ulysses
minor
A Greek hero of the Trojan War, referenced in the poem.
Pyrrhus
minor
A Greek warrior who killed Priam, depicted in Lucrece's painting.
Cynthia
minor
A name for the moon goddess Diana, referenced in the sonnets.
