Mark Antony’s Speech in Julius Caesar Zachary Bonn and Jacob Orkwis

Julius Caesar Summary Play begins with Julius Caesar returning to Rome following a battle with Pompey’s son He’s a powerful man, which worries the elite in the republic At the festival of lupercal, Caesar is warned to “beware the Ides of March” Meanwhile, Cassius and Brutus both discuss the King-like nature of Caesar, and Cassius, already formulating a plot against the Roman leader, claims Brutus should lead Rome The two men run into Casca, who decries the annoying Acts of Caesar (He rejected the crowning by Mark Antony) As the Ides of March approach, various inexplicable events occur to which Cassius sees as messages to kill Caesar Brutus decides to kill Caesar to prevent Tyranny

Summary (Continued) Caesar, following an odd dream, rushes to the Capitol, where he is killed by Cassius, Brutus, and the rest of the conspirators Despite their plans, the conspirators are not liked by Rome and Mark Antony reinforces this by mourning Caesar A new triumvirate forms to war against Brutus and Cassius at Phillippi Brutus and Cassius are doing alright, but due to a misunderstanding over a crowning of their ally Titinius, Cassius kills himself and is then followed by his companions Mark Antony claims Brutus was the noblest man of all following the victory.

Speaker - Audience The speaker of the speech is Mark Antony A friend to Caesar Claims he is not a speaker there to oppose Brutus Mark Antony is speaking to the people of Rome. Not only the senate, but everybody, all who partook in the chaos following Caesar’s death

Occasion The main event Antony’s speech follows is the assassination of Caesar However, many sub-events help portray a more accurate occasion Brutus and Cassius, as well as their fellow conspirators, had just killed Caesar They walked out onto the streets after having washed their hands in Caesar’s blood, fully expecting to be hailed for ending the tyranny in Rome Instead, the Republic is thrown into turmoil in regards to the death

Purpose Two purposes: Mark Antony’s implied purpose The Actual purpose Antony claimed he was only there to mourn his friend In reality, the purpose of his speech was to attack Brutus’ reasons for assassination He directly addresses Brutus multiple times and counters his points In an Aside, the audience is made aware that Antony intends for a violent measures

Subject The main subject is not Caesar despite Antony’s claims The real subject regards Brutus’ claims of Caesar's ambition

Outline of Antony’s Speech His address “ “…addresses who he is speaking to Gives reason to why he is speaking Notes of how Brutus is “honorable” Antony’s anecdote of what Caesar has done for Rome “Ambitious” is not an accurate description of Caesar Caesar was offered the crown 3 times… Caesar was once loved and should be again

Analysis of 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. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-- For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable 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 honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:

Analysis of Speech 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? 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?

Analysis of Speech 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.

Rhetorical Devices Rhetorical Questions Repetition Parallelism What cause witholds you then, to mourn for him? Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? Repetition “But Brutus is an honorable man” Parallelism Juxtaposition “Thrice”

Tone The tone of Antony can be seen from two differing perspectives Sarcastic – At many instances, Antony says “but Brutus was an honorable man” and then continues as if he is refuting this very claim “But Brutus is an honorable man” Defensive – He defends Caesar by refuting claims that he is ambitious