Rhetorical Analysis Of Mark Antony

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In Mark Antony’s iconic “Friends, romans, countrymen…” speech he attempts to persuade the riled up crowd, totally in support of Brutus, to turn against Brutus. A skilled speaker, he carefully develops his speech in a way that turns the crowd against Brutus. With the added advantage of a crowd of simple-minded plebeians, and having the last word, he successfully accomplishes this goal.

Mark Antony begins his speech by deceiving and assuring the crowd he is not here to sway them; saying he is merely here to give a eulogy, for “the good (of a man) is oft’ interred with their bones.” Mark Antony, being the skilled orator that he is, sets the table for dissent. He hits upon the notes of ambition and honorable in a way that soon calls both terms …show more content…

He begins to emotionally appeal to the crowd, weeping and stating “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me.” With this first part of his speech, Antony has successfully set the table for dissent. The sarcasm has built up and Brutus’s “honor” has been placed in question. All of his remarks feature powerful emotional appeals to the crowd, and his rhetoric question "You all did love him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?" has the crowd interested, willing to listen, and slightly …show more content…

With his strategic refusal, the crowd literally demands that Antony read the will. Still, Antony shows some doubt in reading the will, for if he caves so easily right now it will expose his true motives. With a mix of sarcasm and caution, he asks the crowd if they are really willing to stay and once again states, “I fear I wrong the honorable men. Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar; I do fear it.” With this Antony has practically succeeded. The crowd begins to mock Brutus and the conspirators, calling them murderers and traitors, and demands Antony read the will. Still with a slight tone of caution, Antony once again reaffirms the crowd desire for him to read the will and finally obliges to do

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