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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
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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 LupercalI 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 • 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