# The Social Contract — Character guide

> Key figures in The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

- [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/rousseau.md): Author and narrator; presents the theory of the social contract and general will.
- [Thomas Hobbes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/hobbes.md): Philosopher cited for his views on sovereignty and the state of nature.
- [Hugo Grotius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/grotius.md): Legal theorist referenced in discussions of slavery and the right of the strongest.
- [John Locke](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/locke.md): Philosopher cited in arguments about property and political society.
- [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/machiavelli.md): Political thinker referenced regarding government and princely rule.
- [Montesquieu](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/montesquieu.md): Philosopher cited on laws, government forms, and climate theory.
- [Aristotle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/aristotle.md): Ancient philosopher referenced on slavery and natural hierarchy.
- [Plato](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/plato.md): Greek philosopher mentioned in context of the Republic and ideal state.
- [Cicero](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/cicero.md): Roman statesman and orator cited on law and natural right.
- [John Calvin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/calvin.md): Reformer referenced in discussion of civil religion and Geneva.
- [Immanuel Kant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/kant.md): Philosopher cited on moral law and the categorical imperative.
- [Servius Tullius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/servius.md): Roman king who reformed the comitia and census.
- [Cato the Elder](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/cato.md): Roman censor and moralist cited on virtue and censorship.
- [Romulus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/romulus.md): Legendary founder of Rome, referenced in political founding myths.
- [Lycurgus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/lycurgus.md): Legendary lawgiver of Sparta, cited for his constitution.
- [Caligula](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/caligula.md): Roman emperor cited as example of tyranny and absurd power.
- [Samuel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/samuel.md): Biblical prophet who anointed kings, cited on monarchy.
- [Muhammad](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/muhammad.md): Prophet of Islam, referenced in discussion of civil religion.
- [Tacitus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/tacitus.md): Roman historian cited on Germanic tribes and ancient customs.
- [John Austin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/austin.md): Legal positivist cited on sovereignty and command theory.
- [Peter the Great](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/peter.md): Russian tsar cited as example of a legislator reforming a nation.
- [James I and James II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/james_i_and_ii.md): English monarchs referenced in context of divine right and absolutism.
- [Emile](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/emile.md): Title character of Rousseau's earlier work on education, cited here.
- [M. Dreyfus-Brisac](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_social_contract_se/characters/dreyfus_brisac.md): Editor or commentator referenced in endnotes or preface.

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