Marc Anthony’s Speech at Caesar’s Funeral Julius Caesar Marc Anthony’s Speech at Caesar’s Funeral

Background Cassius persuaded Brutus to join with him and conspirators to assassinate Caesar Marc Anthony is suspicious After assassination, Brutus speaks to the crowd and persuades them Caesar was a tyrant and it was for the good of the people that they killed him Marc Anthony must persuade the people against what Brutus has just said Cannot directly accuse him of murdering Caesar since he has a high position

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him; The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones, So let it be with Caesar ... Immediately indicates he is not there to praise Caesar but to bury him. Indicates the goodness Caesar displayed will go with him to the grave. Shift away from “evil ambition” Brutus indicated Focus on emotion Begins with “Friends” Personifies evil and good

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men-- Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Sarcasm and Repetition All the people whom murdered Caesar are “honorable” We will “trust and listen” to Brutus because he’s “honorable” even though he murdered Caesar Rhetorical Question Address the “ambition” Brutus said was his reasoning for killing Caesar Turns “evil ambition” to Caesar being a faithful friend He discredits Brutus without directly stating it

Marc Anthony’s Funeral Speech When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Sarcasm and Rhetorical Question Reminds crowd of Caesar’s love of his people Reminds crows Caesar refused the crown 3 times, how ambition? Swaying crowd to question what Brutus said about Caesar. To prove to themselves he was NOT ambitious.

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Irony He counters all of Brutus’ claims and questions his honor. Uses repetitive aspect to persuade and make his point. Doesn’t directly disparage the murderers Continually uses honourable Focuses on good aspects of Caesar

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Apostrophe & Alliteration “Oh, judgment! Thou are fled to brutish beasts.” Antithesis “I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.” Rhetorical Question “What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?” Hyperbole “My heart in the coffin there with Caesar.” Emotional appeal Exaggeration to heighten statement

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Repetition Continually states “Brutus was an honorable man.” Line that precedes it contradicts statement. Repeats words ambitious and honorable inciting crowd to realize what has actually happened. Pathos: Emotional Appeal You did love Caesar once, how can you not mourn for him? Must be a beast with no reason.

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech But yesterday the word of Caesar might Have stood against the world; now lies he there. And none so poor to do him reverence. O masters, if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are honourable men: I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honourable men.

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech Pathos: Emotional Appeal Questions crowd’s loyalty and quickness of their change of heart. Plays on their emotions. Diction Mentions “mutiny” and “rage” indirectly stirring emotions in crowd. Sarcasm and Repetition I would never wrong Brutus and Cassius; they are “honorable” men.

Marc Antony's Funeral Speech “Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up/ To such a sudden flood of mutiny” (222-223). Says not to consider mutiny- puts the thought in their minds. Diction “good, sweet friends”

Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech “To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas… Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours and new-planted orchards, On this side Tiber; he hath left them you, And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures, To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves” (III.ii.255-265). Mentions that Caesar left the people of Rome many things

Act III Scene iii People of Rome mistake Cinna (artist) for the conspirator Cinna Indicates a mob mentality Declining society of Rome Still attack after they realize who it is- they still want to kill him: merciless, terror Anarchistic and brutal state Caesar’s spirit and ambition live on- his monarchy will live on even after his death