Marc Antony's Speech in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Marc Antony notes that Caesar won victories for the general Roman public. It is not toward the end of the play. He uses implicit statements and verbal irony. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? They allow Antony, as a Senator, to speak to the Roman public. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Then, he also undermines this statement. Throughout his speech, Antony undermines both of these statements through irony.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honorable man. Thus, Caesar was not ambitious. Caesar was also attuned to the needs of all of his people. If Brutus states that Julius was ambitious and uses this as justification for his killing, then if Julius was not ambitious, then Brutus was lying. Through this speech, Antony attempts to turn popular opinion against his assassins. Antony and his speech serve as a tipping point for the action. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man.
Antony uses rhetoric and irony to rile up the masses against the conspirators in a subtle way. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. Brutus and his companions have taken control of this memorial service. You all did love him once, not without cause. This is a use of rhetorical irony. Below is the full text of the speech. Antony used this speech to convince a crowd to do something that was the exact opposite of their original intent.
You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. He appears to comply, but his true intent is more devious. Then, he undermines this assertion. Antony bases his speech on Brutus's proposed justification that Caesar was ambitious. What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? Instead, he insinuates it.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen The speech of Marc Antony in Act 3, Scene 2 of the tragic play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is one of the most thrilling moments in the play. He reminds the public that they ''all did love him once, not without cause. Antony further uses irony when he refers to Brutus and his coconspirators as honorable. 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. Through these techniques, he convinces the Roman public that Julius Caesar was not ambitious. Then, he spends the rest of his speech describing the good deeds of Caesar.
Rhetoric is the use of language to convince one's audience to act in a certain way or believe a certain idea. Rhetoric is the use of language to persuade an audience to believe or act in a certain way. This speech can also be used as a model for rhetoric and popular persuasion. Another use of irony is his comment that when men die, their good deeds are never remembered. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. . At the beginning of his speech, Antony establishes the idea, which was the cause of Brutus' assassination, that Julius was ambitious. When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Rather, it is directly in the middle of the play.
By this time, he has significantly undermined Brutus' argument. It occurs in the middle of the play, during Caesar's funeral. Analysis of the Speech An analysis of Marc Antony's speech in Julius Caesar shows how it is an excellent model of using rhetoric to convince an audience. Brutus and his companions demand that Antony give a speech that does not explicitly blame them for causing Caesar's death. Lesson Summary Marc Antony's speech in Act 2 Scene 3 of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is an impressive example of the power of rhetoric. So let it be with Caesar.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me, But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. Therefore, Brutus was not honorable. Antony uses this occasion to subtly inject verbal irony and pathos. He has been forbidden from discussing the guilt of the conspirators directly. Thus, he turns the public against Brutus and his coconspirators in minutes. Previously, the popular opinion was against Caesar.
All that remains in the public memory is their evil. Furthermore, he refused three offers to be crowned king and chose compassion for the poor of Rome. Therefore, Brutus and his coconspirators are guilty of murder. If Brutus was lying, then he was not honorable. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
