Interesting Literature

A Short Analysis of Mark Antony’s ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen’ Speech

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Mark Antony’s ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen’ speech from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a masterclass of irony and the way rhetoric can be used to say one thing but imply something quite different without ever naming it . Mark Antony delivers a funeral speech for Julius Caesar following Caesar’s assassination at the hands of Brutus and the conspirators, but he is only allowed to do so as long as he does not badmouth the conspirators for their role in Caesar’s death.

Antony’s references to Brutus as an honourable man subtly and ingeniously show that Brutus is anything but honourable, while also serving to show that Caesar was not the ambitious man Brutus has painted him to be.

The best way to analyse this key speech from the play is to go through it, summarising it section by section.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

brutus and antony's speech analysis essay

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Mark Antony has ‘read the room’ and knows the mood among the crowd: they still support the assassination of Julius Caesar and so side with Brutus and the other conspirators.

Mark Antony treads carefully, brilliantly going against their expectations and reassuring him that he is simply there to deliver a funeral oration, not to take the dead general’s side (it’s worth remembering that Julius Caesar was a general, not an emperor: although he was called Caesar, he wasn’t ‘a’ Caesar, the name given to later emperors of Rome in his honour).

The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;

Daniell notes helpfully that these lines, which have become much more famous thanks to Shakespeare’s play, are proverbial and their sentiment (albeit with different wording) predate Shakespeare.

The meaning is obvious enough: when people die, the bad things they did often stick in people’s memories, while their good deeds are forgotten. As Antony goes on to say, ‘So let it be with Caesar’.

Immediately, then, he is cleverly saying that he is happy for everyone to focus on Caesar’s bad points and forget the good the man did; but in referring to the latter, he is subtly reminding them that Caesar did good as well as evil things. (By the way, a note on scansion or metre: because Mark Antony is addressing the crowd using blank verse or unrhymed iambic pentameter , ‘interred’ should be pronounced as three syllables, not two.)

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.

Mark Antony now takes up Brutus’ words about Julius Caesar and responds to them. He doesn’t contradict Brutus, but instead uses the subjunctive ‘If’: ‘If it were so’. He refuses to say that Caesar was ambitious, but grants that if it were true, it was a terrible fault.

The purpose of this is to cast doubt on the very idea that Caesar was ambitious (supposedly the very reason for his assassination), but in such a way that doesn’t rub the crowd (which still supports Brutus) up the wrong way. He then goes on to point out, however, that if Caesar was ambitious, he’s now dead, so has ‘answer’d’ or paid the penalty for his fault.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest– (For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable men) Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.

Mark Antony makes a performative gesture to Brutus’ supposed generosity in letting him, Mark Antony, speak at Caesar’s funeral. He says that such generosity is a sign of Brutus’ honour: he, and the rest of the conspirators, are ‘honourable men’.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man.

Antony now slowly begins to ease in some praise for Caesar, but keeps it personal to him, rather than making grand, universal statements about Caesar’s good qualities: he was his friend, and faithful and just to him . But then, Brutus says Caesar was ambitious, and Brutus is honourable, so ‘I guess I was wrong (but I know I’m not)’. Obviously this last bit is implied, not spoken aloud – but that’s what Mark Antony is building towards.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

Let’s look at what Caesar did: he took many enemies prisoner and brought them here to Rome, and these captives’ ransoms, when paid, helped to make Rome rich. Does this seem ‘ambitious’ behaviour to you?

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.

When the poor of the city suffered, Caesar wept with pity for them. Hardly the actions of an ambitious man, who should be harder-hearted than this! But Brutus says Caesar was ambitious, and Brutus is honourable, so … it must be true … right? Note how Antony continues to sow the seeds of doubt in the crowd’s mind.

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.

Antony reminds the Romans that at the festival of Lupercalia (held in mid-February, around the same time as our modern Valentine’s Day; so just a month before Caesar was assassinated), he publicly presented Julius Caesar with a crown, but Caesar refused it three times (remember, he was ‘just’ a general, a military leader: not an emperor). Again, Antony appeals to the crowd: does this seem like the action of an ambitious man?

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know.

Although he clearly is disproving what Brutus claimed of Caesar, Antony maintains that this isn’t his aim: he’s merely telling the truth based on what he knows of Caesar.

You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?

Antony reminds the crowd of Romans that they all loved Caesar once too, and they had reasons for doing so: Caesar was clearly a good leader. So why do they now not mourn for him in death? (Note Antony’s skilful use of ‘cause’ twice here: they loved Caesar with good cause, but what cause is responsible for their failure to shed a tear at his passing?)

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.

Observe the clever pun on Brutus’ name in ‘brutish beasts’: Antony stops short of calling Brutus a beast, but it’s clear enough that he thinks the crowd has been manipulated with violent thugs and everyone has lost their ability to think rationally about Caesar. The mob spirit has been fomented and everyone has made Caesar, even in death, the target of their hatred.

Mark Antony brings his ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen’ speech, a masterly piece of oratory, to a rousing end with an appeal to personal emotion, claiming that seeing Rome so corrupted by hatred and blinded by unreason has broken his heart. He concludes, however, with a final line that offers a glimmer of hope, implying that if Rome would only recover itself, he would be all right again.

You can watch Damian Lewis reciting this famous speech here .

2 thoughts on “A Short Analysis of Mark Antony’s ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen’ Speech”

We are going into drama soon and will be studying this speech. You have brought to my attention aspects I had noticed, even though I have taught it for years. Thanks!

Thanks for the comment, Pam – that’s praise indeed! I hope you have a fruitful discussion :)

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brutus and antony's speech analysis essay

Julius Caesar

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Antony and Brutus Speech Analysis Essay Example

In the play “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare the main character, Julius Caesar, was murdered. At his funeral two speeches were given; one by a noble and one conspirator of the assassination named Brutus, and one by a noble and loyal friend of Caesar named Mark Antony. Brutus gives his speech at the funeral in to convince the Roman citizens that he is still honorable and that he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. Brutus allows Mark Antony to give a speech as well in order to further help his case, but Antony has other plans. Antony had his own plan to turn the citizens of Rome against the conspirators because he saw the conspirators as they were: murderers. Brutus and Antony both used pathos, ethos, logos, and repetition to make their speeches more effective and convincing. 

In both Brutus’s speech and Antony’s speech, we see the appeal to emotions. One of Brutus’s main points was the appeal to patriotism and freedom which connects to pathos. He uses this appeal to get sympathy from the citizens of Rome and make his defense seem more convincing. He states in his speech, “Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? Who is here so vile that will not love his country? (III, ii, 32-35)” While this appeal to patriotism did work for a short time it was later overshadowed by Antony’s appeals. Antony was a close and loyal friend, so his use of pathos was true and genuine. Antony states in his speech, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. (III, ii, 100-101)” This example showed the people of Rome that Caesar was a good leader to them and cared for them deeply. This use of pathos in Antony’s speech sank deeper in the citizens of Rome and helped convince them that Caesar needs to be avenged.

Additionally, both speeches also use their credibility in order to persuade their audience. One main reason that Antony’s speech was more convincing was because he relied on pathos rather than ethos, unlike Brutus. Brutus states in his speech, “Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour. (III, ii, 15-17)” Brutus’s reputation led the citizens of Rome to believe him because he was the “noble Brutus” but his use of ethos in his speech was not a strong enough argument because he gave no actual proof that Caesar needed to be assassinated. Because of his lack of proof, Brutus’s honor could easily be discredited by Mark Antony. Mark Antony’s credibility came from his loyal friendship with Caesar and his nobility. Antony states in his speech, “Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me. (III, ii, 93-94)” Antony did not rely on ethos in his speech but the citizens knew him as a loyal and noble man. 

In addition, both speakers used logic to persuade the citizens that they were being truthful. Brutus used the logic that he needed to kill Caesar in order to save Rome and its freedom. He explains in his speech, “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? (III, ii, 21-26)” He did this to show the citizens that he used reason to decide that in order to keep Rome safe Caesar had to die. Antony used logic to disprove Brutus’s accusation that Julius Caesar was ambitious. He stated in his speech, “He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? (III, ii, 97-99)” Antony uses many examples such as this in order to prove that Brutus was wrong, and that Caesar was good.

Finally, a key appeal both Antony and Brutus used was repetition or staying on the message. Brutus repeats the word “honour” to emphasize that he is honorable and everything that he did was for the good of Rome. Contrastingly, Antony repeated the word honorable to make it have less value. He uses the phrase, “Brutus is an honorable man” each time he disproved Brutus’s allegations. He did that to show that Brutus was in fact not an honorable man, but instead a murderer. Antony also repeats the word “ambitious” in order to contradict what Brutus said. This use of repetition helped the citizens of Rome see that what Brutus said was wrong and that Caesar was the real honorable man.

In Antony’s speech and Brutus’s speech, we see many appeals they use to persuade the audience that they are both honorable and truthful. They both used many appeals including pathos, ethos, logos, and repetition in their speeches. The major difference between the two was that Brutus appealed more to his own credibility while Antony appealed more to the emotions of the citizens. Both speeches had an impact on the citizens, but Antony’s speech was the best executed one. His use of appeals made his speech more effective and convincing than Brutus’s speech.

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brutus and antony's speech analysis essay

The citizens demand answers regarding Caesar’s death. Brutus makes a speech explaining that although he valued Caesar as a friend, it was appropriate to kill him for his ambition, and that he did so with the good of Rome in mind. He challenges the crowd, saying that anyone who loves his freedom must stand with Brutus. Mark Antony enters with Caesar’s body. The crowd clamors for Brutus, and Brutus tells them to listen to Mark Antony. The plebeians are reluctant to listen to Mark Antony at all, claiming that Caesar was a tyrant.

Antony addresses them, appearing at first to praise the conspirators. His speech gradually inspires doubt about the conspirators through his praise of Caesar, particularly after he shows the crowd Caesar’s wounded body and reads Caesar’s will, which bequeaths money to each citizen and makes some of Caesar’s private lands into public parks. The crowd begins to cry for revenge on the conspirators, and Mark Antony pretends to dissuade them, but they run off to attack the conspirators anyway. A messenger from Octavius arrives and says that Octavius and Lepidus are waiting for Antony at Caesar’s house. Antony goes to meet them.

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Julius Caesar "Friends, Romans, countrymen...."

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In Mark Antony's funeral oration for Caesar, we have not only one of Shakespeare's most recognizable opening lines but one of his finest examples of rhetorical irony at work. The speech could serve as a thematic synopsis to Julius Caesar . Perhaps more than any other of Shakespeare's works, Julius Caesar is a play that hinges upon rhetoric—both as the art of persuasion and an artifice used to veil intent.

To be sure, Antony does not have it easy. He is already a man distrusted by the conspirators for his friendship with Caesar. Brutus lets him speak at Caesar's funeral, but only after Brutus, a great orator in his own right, has spoken first to "show the reason of our Caesar's death." Brutus makes it clear that Antony may speak whatever good he wishes of Caesar so long as he speaks no ill of the conspirators. But Antony has two advantages over Brutus: his subterfuge and his chance to have the last word. It's safe to say that Antony makes the most of his opportunity.

Antony's performance on the bully pulpit should come as no surprise. It is obvious from his Act III, sc. i meeting with the conspirators that he means something different in nearly everything he says. He even subtly mocks the senators with his lines "My credit now stands on such slippery ground/That one of two bad ways you must conceit me/Either a coward or a flatterer." Antony is the picture of disingenuous. Brutus, ignoring the more sensible misgivings of Cassius, takes Antony at his word. We, however, know what's in store when Antony in private utters, "O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth/That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!"

Brutus is clearly overmatched at Caesar's funeral, both by Antony's duplicity and oration. Brutus gives a reasoned prose speech that convinces the crowd Caesar had to die. Then, for reasons that remain questionable even taking naiveté into account, Brutus not only yields to Antony but leaves the Forum altogether. Antony will expend 137 lines of blank verse before he's done, using rhetoric and calculated histrionics to incite the crowd into a mob frenzy. All quite masterful for a man who denies any ability to "stir men's blood," as he puts it.

In the speech that follows, Antony merely sets the table for dissent. He progressively hits upon the notes of ambition and honourable in a cadence that soon calls both terms into question. Antony's prime weapons at the beginning are his conspicuous ambiguity regarding Caesar ("If it were so, it was a grievous fault") and Brutus ("Yet Brutus says he was ambitious"), rhetorical questions ("Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?") and feigned intent ("I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke"). More chilling, however, is Antony's cynical epilogue to the funeral speech as the mob departs: "Now let it work: mischief, thou art afoot/Take thou what course thou wilt!" As Antony exemplifies, the art of persuasion is not far removed in Julius Caesar from the craft of manipulation.

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 interréd 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 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? 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? 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.

—Act III, sc. ii

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The Speeches of Brutus and Anthony in Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar: Brutus and Mark Antony Comparison

  • Julius Caesar: Brutus and Mark…

In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there is a major difference between two of the characters, Brutus and Mark Antony. Brutus was very honorable and Antony was very persuasive. When Brutus spoke at Caesar’s funeral, he appealed to the people’s logic and Antony spoke to the emotions of the people. Antony is very smart and uses his brain frequently during the play and Brutus is very naive about many things.

Brutus was very honorable and Antony was very persuasive. Brutus was very honorable in the way that he always told people the truth. Antony was persuasive in the way that he used people to get whatever he wanted. For example, Antony used Lepidus to seek revenge on all of the conspirators to take the blame for their deaths. In the speech at Caesar’s funeral, Brutus spoke to the people’s logical mind and Antony spoke to the emotions of the people.

Brutus’ speech was very short and to the point and spoke to the logic of the people in the crowd. For example, Brutus spoke in a detached way about Caesar’s death while Antony spoke to the emotions of the crowd by crying and talking about all the good things that Caesar did for Rome. Antony’s intelligence was very apparent throughout the play and Brutus appeared to be naive about many things.

Antony is smart in the way that he manipulates people to his own advantage. For example, Antony was manipulative in his emotional approach to persuade people to become outraged at Brutus. Brutus appears to be naive throughout the whole play because he believed everyone was as honorable as he. Brutus did not question what he was told, assuming it was always true. In conclusion, in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there is a major difference between the two characters, Brutus and Mark Antony.

The strongest contrast between the two characters appears to be their ability and inability to be both honorable and persuasive.

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Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2023 | Creative Commons 4.0

13 Comments

Even Antony knows that Brutus is an intelligent person. But I intentionally agree with Victoria

I would use this for my essay, but the start of this essay is similar to my teacher’s example.

This analysis is profoundly wrong on the piece. Brutus was a introverted philosopher, he was INCREDIBLY intelligent. Was this serious? Or did you not only not read this play. Having said that, Antony was a man of his senses, and an emotional one at that – who had been surprised and disturbed by the killing of JC for which he was not party of. Brutus attempts to sway the people through logic, in a highly emotional time for Rome showing his inability to connect with the people, or even see them – because he only thinks robotically – you seem to forget the unmatched freedoms, and prosperity of Rome at this time NEVER TO BE SEEN again in the history of the Roman empire. Brutus, who was intelligent, but thought he could appeal to “logic” when it was clear to the people that his words were false considering the clear change in their governance and life. Antony on the other hand, related to the people in their emotion, and galvanized it.

Hey nick he might’ve not used Shakespeare’s version of the death of Ceaser he could’ve been talking about Plutarchs. Two different authors with different Strategies on writing and point of views on the story.

I must agree with Victoria! I have read this story 6 times and as an English teacher what Elizabeth is saying is incorrect

Dear Elizabeth … you are wrong ! first of all Brutus was manipulated by Cassius thinking it was for the good of Rome … and he does say he killed him for ambition… but you see only Brutus thinks that… but Cassius has a very own selfish reason and he is using Brutus because the people can trust him!! but Brutus is naive … he should have seen right through Cassius…

I’m not blaming you or challenging you I’m just correcting you … please don’t get this the wrong way!!!

She’s not wrong. She just has a different opinion is all.

What is written here is not true.Brutus killed a powerful leader for no reason (he says that he was ambitious but he has no proofs for what he said) and still he can be honorable man ? No sir, he is not honorable. His speech has a lot of flaws and no proofs at all.

hes honorable in the sense he killing for the people that least thats how the story was i thought the same thing at first killing a friend honorable thats weird but its for the people

This helped me with board exams.

although im only in high school, this helped me very much. comparing the two is a very big point in the essay i have to write

It really helped me

same, thanks

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Brutus' and Antony's Speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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Antony Funeral Speech Analysis

Mark Antony’s funeral speech for Julius Caesar was one of the most important speeches in Roman history. Antony’s ability to turn the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators was a key moment in the Roman Republic. Antony’s speech is a great example of rhetoric and how it can be used to persuade an audience.

In his speech, Antony uses several rhetorical devices to effectively make his point. One of these is ethos, or Appeal to Authority. In this section of the speech, Antony points out that Brutus was Caesar’s friend, and that he would not have betrayed him if he didn’t believe it was for the good of Rome. This helps to create a sense of trust between Antony and the audience, as they believe that he is speaking from a position of knowledge.

Another rhetorical device used by Antony is pathos, or Appeal to Emotion. In this section of the speech, Antony asks the crowd to consider how Caesar was a good man and how he had helped Rome. This appeal to emotion is effective in swaying the crowd’s opinion against Brutus and the other conspirators.

Lastly, Antony uses logos, or Appeal to Reason. In this section, he points out that the conspirators killed Caesar without giving him a chance to defend himself. This shows that they were not acting in the interests of justice, but rather in their own self-interest. This appeal to reason is effective in convincing the crowd that Brutus and the other conspirators are in the wrong.

Overall, Antony’s funeral speech is a masterful example of rhetoric. His use of ethos, pathos, and logos enables him to effectively persuade the crowd to turn against Brutus and the other conspirators.

Julius Caesar is a play about rhetoric in all of Shakespeare’s works, but it is a drama that emphasizes it the most – both as an art of persuasion and as a technique for hiding purpose. Shakespeare’s command of language is among the most remarkable things about him. In Mark Antony’s eulogy for Caesar, we have not only one of Shakespeare’s most well-known opening lines, but also one of his finest examples of rhetorical irony in action.

Mark Antony’s funeral oration for Julius Caesar in Act III, Scene II of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is probably the most famous speech in all of drama. Certainly it is one of the most effective political speeches ever written. But what makes this particular speech so successful? In order to answer that question, we must first understand the Roman concept of rhetoric and how it was used in political situations.

Rhetoric was defined by Aristotle as “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” He further divided rhetoric into three categories: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos appeals to the character of the speaker, pathos to the emotions of the audience, and logos to logic and reason. Antony’s speech makes use of all three of these rhetorical devices.

The most important thing to remember about Roman rhetoric is that it was not just used for persuasion, but also as a way to veil one’s true intentions. In other words, it was used as a tool of deception. This is why Brutus believes that Antony’s funeral oration is so dangerous. He knows that Antony is not really grieving for Caesar, but is using the occasion to stir up the people against Brutus and the other conspirators.

The speech begins with one of the most famous lines in all of Shakespeare: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!” This is a perfect example of ethos, as Antony is appealing to the character of his audience. He is calling them “friends” and “countrymen” in order to gain their trust.

He then goes on to say that he will not abuse their trust by using flowery language or false flattery, as Brutus did in his speech. This is a clever way of implicitly criticising Brutus while also making himself appear more trustworthy.

The next part of the speech is an emotional appeal to pathos. Antony talks about how much Caesar loved the Roman people and how devoted he was to his country. He even claims that Caesar wept for the Roman people before his death.

Antony then asks the rhetorical question, “So let it be with Caesar!” This is a powerful statement that speaks to the emotions of the audience. It challenges them to think about whether or not they really want Caesar to be forgotten and ignored after his death.

The final part of the speech is a logical appeal to logos. Antony points out that Brutus and the other conspirators killed Caesar in order to prevent him from becoming a tyrant, but that their actions have only made things worse. He asks the people to consider what will happen if they allow the conspirators to go unpunished.

Antony’s speech is so successful because it makes use of all three of the Roman rhetorical devices: ethos, pathos, and logos. He starts by appealing to the character of his audience, then he moves on to an emotional appeal, and finally he finishes with a logical argument.

The speech is also successful because it is filled with irony. Antony says that he will not abuse the trust of his audience by using flowery language or false flattery, but that is exactly what he is doing. He is using rhetoric as a tool of deception, just as Brutus did in his own speech.

The speech may be used as a thematic overview of Julius Caesar. One of the most important and momentous moments in the play is Brutus’ and Mark Antony’s funeral oration, which occurs at the conclusion. At first, the funerals appear to hold no importance. However, when examined more closely, it becomes clear that they serve as the basis for the final conclusion of the play.

Brutus’s speech is Roman, logical, and full of reason while Mark Antony’s speech is emotional, personal, and full of passion. Brutus gives his speech first in order to establish his position and to prove to the citizens that he did what was best for Rome. Mark Antony’s speech is in response to Brutus’s and it serves to tear down everything that Brutus just said. In this essay, I will be discussing the different techniques used by the two orators and how those techniques either helped or hurt their cause.

Brutus starts his funeral speech by establishing his character and credibility to the Roman citizens. He starts by saying “Be not deceived: if I have lent you my voice, it is to promote the best interests of Rome, not Brutus” (III.ii.15-16). He is immediately trying to show the citizens that he is not a selfish man and that he only has Roman interests at heart.

He continues by saying “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:– Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (III.ii.19-21). In other words, Brutus killed Caesar for the good of Rome and not because he didn’t like him. By starting his speech off with Roman rhetoric, Brutus immediately establishes himself as a credible source.

Mark Antony starts his speech by establishing his emotional connection to Caesar. He starts by saying “For I have known him since he was a boy, / And all those times and fashions he did wearing” (III.ii.93-94). By connecting with the citizens on an emotional level, Antony is able to establish himself as someone who truly knew Caesar and loved him.

He continues by talking about all of the good things that Caesar has done for Rome and for him personally. He talks about how Caesar “was the noblest Roman of them all” (III.ii.103) and how he “loved the name of honor more than he feared death” (III.ii.104-105). By talking about all of the good things that Caesar has done, Antony is able to establish him as a martyr.

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  1. Comparing the Speeches of Brutus and Antony.

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  3. Brutus and Antony's speeches.

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COMMENTS

  1. A Comparison of Brutus' and Antony's Speeches: Why Was Antony's Speech

    Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar was more effective than Brutus' because Antony used a multifaceted emotional argument, instead of relying on one assertion, as Brutus had. Because of this, Antony was able to sway the crowd to his side, against Brutus and the Conspirators.

  2. A Short Analysis of Mark Antony's 'Friends, Romans, countrymen' Speech

    Antony's references to Brutus as an honourable man subtly and ingeniously show that Brutus is anything but honourable, while also serving to show that Caesar was not the ambitious man Brutus has painted him to be. The best way to analyse this key speech from the play is to go through it, summarising it section by section.

  3. Julius Caesar Act III: Scenes ii & iii Summary & Analysis

    Read important quotes from Antony's funeral oration. Antony's speech is a rhetorical tour de force. He speaks in verse and repeats again and again that Brutus and the conspirators are honorable men; the phrase "Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honourable man" accrues new levels of sarcasm at each repetition (III.ii. 83 ...

  4. What differentiates Antony's and Brutus's speeches in Julius Caesar

    Antony's speech is heavily loaded with emotive language, while Brutus relies predominantly on reason and logic in his oration. Brutus expects the crowd to understand and appreciate the...

  5. Julius Caesar Act 3, scene 2 Summary & Analysis

    Summary Analysis A crowd of plebeians follows Brutus and Cassius, demanding satisfaction. Half of them follow Cassius to hear his explanation, and half follow Brutus.

  6. Brutus And Antony Speech Analysis

    Research Brutus And Antony Speech Analysis Brutus And Antony Speech Analysis 1101 Words 5 Pages In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Caesar had just returning to Rome from a great victory against Pompey. As Caesar was traveling down the roads of Rome, other senators were starting to get nervous about his growing power.

  7. Antony and Brutus Speech Analysis Essay Example

    / Plays Antony and Brutus Speech Analysis Essay Example In the play "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare the main character, Julius Caesar, was murdered. At his funeral two speeches were given; one by a noble and one conspirator of the assassination named Brutus, and one by a noble and loyal friend of Caesar named Mark Antony.

  8. Act 3, Scene 2

    The citizens demand answers regarding Caesar's death. Brutus makes a speech explaining that although he valued Caesar as a friend, it was appropriate to kill him for his ambition, and that he did so with the good of Rome in mind. He challenges the crowd, saying that anyone who loves his freedom must stand with Brutus. Mark Antony enters with Caesar's body.

  9. Shakespeare Resource Center

    Brutus makes it clear that Antony may speak whatever good he wishes of Caesar so long as he speaks no ill of the conspirators. But Antony has two advantages over Brutus: his subterfuge and his chance to have the last word. It's safe to say that Antony makes the most of his opportunity.

  10. The Speeches of Brutus and Anthony in Julius Caesar

    Both Brutus and Antony refer to Brutus as an honorable man. Over his speech , Antony calls Brutus an honorable man after reminding the audience of what he did to Caesar. An example of this would be when Antony, says, "He was my friend, faithful and just to me but Brutus says he was ambitious" ( Julius Caesar. 3.2.10).

  11. Brutus And Mark Antony Speech Analysis

    909 Words4 Pages Both speeches conveyed by Brutus and Mark Antony in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar are very persuasive to the crowd of mourns at the funeral of Julius Caesar. Although, the rhetorical devices in each speech was expressed in different ways in order to sway the opinion of mourns in the crowd.

  12. Julius Caesar: Brutus and Mark Antony Comparison

    Earn Money. In William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, there is a major difference between two of the characters, Brutus and Mark Antony. Brutus was very honorable and Antony was very persuasive. When Brutus spoke at Caesar's funeral, he appealed to the people's logic and Antony spoke to the emotions of the people. Antony is very smart ...

  13. Compare and contrast Brutus and Antony in Julius Caesar.

    Brutus, in contrast, is far more wedded to honor than to Antony's style of Machiavellian politics. Brutus, for example, helps kill Caesar (though he loves and admires him) because Cassius is able ...

  14. Brutus'S Speech Vs. Antony'S Persuasive And Analysis Example ...

    Category: Last Updated: Pages: Download The Speech That Changed Everything In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Mark Antony must win the support of the Romans by making a speech to them. The two former friends become enemies. They share different beliefs in what is right in their eyes.

  15. Brutus And Antony Speech Analysis

    Brutus And Antony Speech Analysis. 1328 Words6 Pages. Brutus and Antony are two very different character types. Brutus has betrayed Caesar for his love for Rome. Antony prised Caesar and was his right hand in battle and a close friend, that Antony truly loved Caesar. After Cesar's assassination Rome was in a state of panic.

  16. Antony Character Analysis in Julius Caesar

    Antony proves strong in all of the ways that Brutus proves weak. His impulsive, improvisatory nature serves him perfectly, first to persuade the conspirators that he is on their side, thus gaining their leniency, and then to persuade the plebeians of the conspirators' injustice, thus gaining the masses' political support.

  17. Brutus' and Antony's Speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    Brutus' and Antony's Speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Essay details Category: History, Literature Subcategory: Roman Empire, Plays, Writers Topic: Julius Caesar, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare Words: 626 (1 page) Download Please note! This essay has been submitted by a student.

  18. Brutus And Antony's Speech Analysis

    The play "Julius Caesar" explained two men named Brutus and Antony who both presented speeches in front of their town with different meanings about the assassination of Caesar. Antony had to ask Brutus for permission to speak at Caesar's funeral. His despairing emotion and speech drawed the crowds special attention.

  19. Brutus' and Antony's Speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

    In this play, Brutus and Antony try to persuade the citizens of Rome to believe what they believe. Antony tries to state the fact that the conspirators were traitors and that they were basically the cause of Caesar's death. They committed an act of brutality on Caesar in other words. Brutus on the other hand tries to state that he killed Caesar ...

  20. Brutus Speech Analysis

    Brutus Speech Analysis. After Caesar's death, in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the conspirators and Mark Antony speak to the public to explain what has happened to Caesar. Brutus, one of the main conspirators and Caesar's best friend, talks first and gives the Romans the reason as to why Caesar had to be killed.

  21. Antony And Brutus Speech Analysis

    Antony continues his speech saying that Brutus is noble. When Antony says Brutus is noble, it's a little strange. It's not Antony calling him noble that is strange. What is strange is that the more Antony says this, the more sarcastic he becomes. He is mocking Brutus for being "so noble".

  22. Antony Funeral Speech Analysis Essay

    One of these is ethos, or Appeal to Authority. In this section of the speech, Antony points out that Brutus was Caesar's friend, and that he would not have betrayed him if he didn't believe it was for the good of Rome.

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    Brutus should get an "F" grade on his speech, while Antony is rewarded with an "A". Brutus's speech is practically a failure. Brutus makes his first mistake when he disperses half of his audience. "Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here; / Those that will follow Cassius, go with him... (Act III, Scene 2, lines 5-6).