The Tragedy of Julius Caesar was written by William Shakespeare and by the beginning of Act 3 scene 1, Julius Caesar was killed by the conspirators. When Mark Anthony heard this news, he was heartbroken and he ran for his life. After mourning for a short period, he decided to avenge Caesar’s death by speaking in Caesar’s funeral(Anthony’s speech was the finest and most remembered speech written by William Shakespeare). The crowd became angry when Brutus was delivering his speech. To control the angry crowd, Brutus addressed the crowd and gave reasons why Caesar was a tyrant. After Brutus delivered his speech, he foolishly left and he did not hear what Antony wanted to say. Anthony’s speech was filled with irony and sarcasm. Antony knows that …show more content…
Every Roman citizen see Brutus as a good man. Anthony notices this and uses it against Brutus. He then points out the fact that Brutus murder Caesar. Anthony impressively turns the people from Brutus to his side. Further stating that Brutus and the others are honorable, Anthony indirectly convinces the crowd that Brutus was every much wrong in killing Caesar and emphasized that their “Daggers have stabb’d Caesar.” Moreover, Antony’s use of the word “ambitious” which is first used to attack Caesar becomes a way to praise him like “The noble Brutus hath told Caesar was ambitious”. Before Antony used the above sentence, he exemplified that Caesar was not ambitious. In the opening of his speech Antony uses the term “ambitious” in the way the crowd views Caesar but then Antony deliberately contrasts ambition and generosity by saying that Caesar has used ransom money for prisoners of war to general coffers fill. If Caesar was greedy as the crowd thought he would have kept the money for himself and not have spent it for Rome. Juxtaposing ambition and empathy, Anthony’s rhetorical question Brutus says that he was “ambitious” was an attack upon Brutus by Mark Antony. He further differentiates between ambition and humility when he points out that Caesar “thrice refuse the kingly crown” which Antony presented him on the Lupercal. He also brought back many captives back to
Throughout his speech, Antony repeats the words “[Caesar] was ambitious” and “Brutus is an honorable man” to create a contrast between the two statements. (3.2.95-96). Through this repetition, Caesar successfully undermines Brutus. Everytime he calls Brutus an honorable man, he lists a positive trait of Caesar that contradicts Brutus’s claim that he was too ambitious. He tells the crowd about the times when Caesar showed compassion for the people and when he refused the crown thrice. Antony’s sarcasm about Brutus’s honor brings into question as to whether his honor deserved. This leads the audience to doubt their feelings upon Caesar’s ambition. Near the end of his eulogy, Antony uses apostrophe when he claims that “judgment ... art fled to brutish beasts” as a reason for why the Roman people believe Brutus. (3.2.114-115). Antony indirectly shames the crowd for their belief in Brutus in that Caesar was a tyrant. Fearing alienation of the crowd, he attributes this belief to a lapse in judgement that beasts have taken. Antony also makes a pun upon Brutus’s name when he comments “brutish beasts.” Antony implies Brutus has caused a lapse in judgement within the Roman people through his oration
Antony also uses the power of his speech, similar to Cassius, to influence the plebeians of Rome by carefully structuring his words together and using various tones to appeal to the audience. Antony uses repetition, such as this quote, “I thrice presented him a kingly crown,/ Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?/Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,/And sure he is an honourable man.”(III.ii.94-97) Antony uses this repetition of giving evidence to the people of what Caesar’s characteristics were really like, showing them that Caesar was not as ambitious as Brutus said, and calling Brutus an honourable man. The repetition allows for the plebeians to realize the truth because of Antony’s multiple exposures of verification that Caesar was not ambitious and how Brutus and the other conspirators are at fault. It also influences the plebeians to believe that Brutus is not noble at all because of how deceitful he acts when justifying his causes to murder Caesar. Antony then says, “[...]Bear with me./My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,/and I must pause till it come back to me.”(III.ii.103-105). Antony indicates how close his relationship to Caesar and that he feels so heartbroken that he chokes up from all the overwhelming emotions he feels. The tone of his speech elicits sympathy from the plebeians due to the
The people are essential to Antony's plan. He didn't just go and give a speech about how he felt, he knew what would come from his actions. “ I thrice presented him the crown, which he did thrice refuse” Antony is trying not to show Caesar faults, but shows how Brutus lied about Caesar being honorable, later stating honor should be made of stronger stuff . Antony is showing that when Brutus says Caesar was ambitious, he was showing that Caesar wasn't ambitious and that Brutus lied. Antony knows that if he can make Brutus seem not honorable, he can get the people to turn on the perfect
Opposed to Antony’s logical view, Brutus’ controversial and slightly skewed portrayal of Caesar shows that he was an ambitious ruler who would have soon turned into a tyrant. In his private thoughts, Brutus sees Caesar as having fallen to the common proof that upon climbing the ladder of ambition, he forgot to remember those below him. In his funeral speech, Brutus attempts to show Caesar’s ambition ; He also tries to demonstrate his love of Rome by depicting his killing of Caesar as an honorable deed. Brutus charges Caesar with becoming too ambitious, and in his speech he questions all men if they would “Rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (3.2.1556-1558). Brutus thus equates Caesar to a serpent in the egg, whom, at the moment is not dangerous, but Caesar’s ambition will soon turn him into a dangerous creature that is much more difficult to control. While Brutus does not disrespect any of Caesar’s other qualities, he believes that he rightfully...
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is an intimate portrayal of the famed assassination of Julius Caesar and the complex inner workings of the men who committed the crime. In one particularly revealing scene, two of the men closest to Caesar, one a conspirator in his murder and one his second-in command, give orations for the deceased. Despite being simple in appearance, these two speeches do much of the work in developing and exposing the two characters in question. Though both have a love for Caesar, Mark Antony's is mixed with a selfish desire for power, while Brutus' is pure in nature, brought to a screeching halt by his overpowering stoicism. These starkly-contrasted personalities influence the whole of the play, leading to its tragic-but-inevitable end.
Antony asks many rhetorical questions to indirectly manipulate the meaning of the term “ambitious” which also sways the crowd against Brutus and the conspirators. Initially, Brutus accuses Caesar of being ambitious to explain one of the reasons for assassinating him. He assures the people that Caesar had, “tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.”(3.2.29-30) Brutus clearly establishes that he believed Caesar was hungry for power; this sets the stage up for Antony to easily oppose Brutus later in order to make Brutus look bad. The meaning of ambitious here is having a thirst of power, Caesar was killed because he was claimed to be ambitious. Considering this, Antony contradicts Brutus’s claim and causes the crowd to question Caesar’s motives and Brutus’s accuracy due to his kind actions. Antony tells the people that Caesar “hath brought many captives home to Rome/whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?”(3.2.97-99) Antony makes Brutus look like a liar by verifying that Caesar did good things instead of being hungry for power. He successfully changes the meaning of ambitious from a power-thirs...
The title of the play is Julius Caesar, and was written by William Shakespeare. In 1599, Julius Caesar was the first play to be preformed at the newly built Globe Theater. William Shakespear died in 1616. Brutus was a cautious, devious, and naive.
Not that he attempted to free the republic of Rome from a tyrannous dictator and was killed in the action; but that, with the best of motives, he was responsible for the murder of Caesar.) (Mowant, P. 23 - 25) " Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times. " (Shakespear, Act 3, scene 1, 256 - 257)
However, Antony’s small amount of logos is just as strong, if not stronger than Brutus’s excessive amount. While in the first of calming the crowd, Brutus inquires, “Would you rather Caesar live and die all slaves, / than that Caesar were dead and die all free men?” (JC 3.2.23-24). This is a botched logic; he does not ever present actual evidence of this tyrannical behavior in Caesar or his actions. However, in the minds of the king-fearing Romans, the words, flimsy though they are, are enough. In disproving Brutus’s claims that Caesar was ambitious, Antony uses many examples to prove the opposite. The following brings the welfare of the people into it, showing that with Caesar alive they were given much: “He hath brought many captives home to Rome, / whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; / did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (JC 3.2.89-91). Antony provides solid evidence and a sound argument to explain that Caesar’s seemingly ambitious actions were rather to help the people of Rome, which is not ambitious in the
In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony—a loyal friend to Julius Caesar, the former emperor of Rome—gives a speech to the Roman commoners in order to persuade them to turn against Brutus, for Brutus and the conspirators had slain Caesar. Antony’s uses rough and sharp diction, a scornful tone, and honest anecdotes in order to achieve his purpose of manipulating the common people to take his side.
Through the whole of his spectacular speech, Mark Antony influences the crowd using his distinct diction. He is able to inculcate a fired up anti-Caesar mass of people, and he makes the populace believe that Julius Caesar’s death was a true tragedy. Antony gracefully applies his proficiency with ‘logos’ and ‘pathos’ to his speech and is able to adroitly gain followers. His strong reasoning and explanations allow the Romans to buy what he has to say. Antony’s ability to speak in a roundabout way is a key constituent of his speech. Withal, he is extremely humble and the way he plays down his prowess is impressive. Mark Antony puts all the parts of his remarkable rhetoric together, and the result is a speech for the ages.
In William Shakespeare play Julius Caesar, Caesar is assassinated, and the city of Rome becomes enraged, demanding the death of the conspirators that murdered him. Brutus, one of the main assassins, talks to the mob and persuades them to understand that they are at an advantage without Caesar, the tyrant, as the dictator of Rome. He then leaves Mark Antony, who has meticulous orders to not try to pin the murder on the conspirators’ selfishness, but can speak numerous praises about his superior. Mark Antony then speaks to the persuaded crowd about Caesar’s endeavors and the benefits that Caesar gave to the kingdom, giving everything that was necessary and more. Mark Antony’s speech riles the citizens of Rome to mutiny without actually revealing his personal intentions of wishing to do so. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Mark Antony’s speech is more persuasive that Brutus’ speech
Actions at some moments in Julius Caesar speak louder than words. A prime example is when Cassius wants the men to make a pact to follow through with the murder, but Brutus speaks up and says that the pact is unnecessary. Brutus feels as though every man is a true Roman and each man is as trustworthy and noble as he. As for Antony's speech, this is a whole different story. The words Antony spoke to the public helped motivate the people to go against the conspirators. Thought the action of killing Caesar was a publicized one, Antony's speech was far from being unnoticed.
...ve in his cause rather than Brutus's. Finally, while the crowd is in awe of Brutus's raw power and booming authority, Antony uses sarcasm to rip down any respect the Roman people may have built for Brutus and the conspirators. In his funeral oration, Antony insults Brutus ten times by stating that he is "an honorable man" (Act III, scene ii, line 84) in a tone of biting mockery, therefore questioning Brutus's credibility.
Antony begins with the now famous words, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”(3.2.62) In referring to the commoners as equals, they feel a sense of empathy even at the first line. This can be seen as a sort of ethos. He goes on to say that Brutus has said that Caesar was ambitious, and that this, if true, is a serious...