Line by Line Analysis: How Does Mark Antony Persuade the Crowd?

Summary

In Shakespeare’s *Julius Caesar*, Mark Antony delivers a masterful speech to turn the Roman crowd against the conspirators who killed Caesar. Antony uses seven key rhetorical strategies: a gentle approach, repetition of key terms like 'honorable' and 'ambitious', examples of Caesar’s good character, rhetorical questions, guilt-tripping the crowd, teasing Caesar’s will, and humanizing Caesar by describing his brutal death. Antony skillfully manipulates the crowd’s emotions, transforming them from supportive of Caesar’s murder to enraged and vengeful, ultimately inspiring them to revolt against Brutus and his co-conspirators.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mark Antony is faced with two challenges: convincing the Roman people that Caesar's death was unjustified and managing his own safety among the conspirators.
• 😀 Brutus's speech convinces the Roman crowd that Caesar's murder was justified, so Mark Antony must persuade them to change their minds.
• 😀 Mark Antony uses a gentle approach in his speech, starting by appearing to agree with the conspirators while subtly planting doubt about Caesar’s ambition.
• 😀 Repetition of the words 'honorable' and 'ambitious' undermines Brutus's arguments and makes the Roman audience question the legitimacy of Caesar’s murder.
• 😀 Mark Antony provides examples of Caesar's good character, like his generosity to the poor and refusal of the crown, to counter the claim that he was ambitious.
• 😀 Through rhetorical questions, Antony encourages the audience to rethink Caesar's supposed ambition, asking questions like 'Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?'
• 😀 Antony guilt-trips the Roman people by reminding them that they once loved Caesar and calling them 'brutish beasts' for not mourning him.
• 😀 By teasing Caesar’s will, Antony creates suspense, making the Roman crowd eager to hear it and heightening their emotional response to the speech.
• 😀 Mark Antony humanizes Caesar by vividly describing his brutal death and showing his body, turning Caesar into a martyr rather than just a ruler.
• 😀 Through his speech, Antony uses a combination of logic, emotion, and rhetorical techniques to persuade the crowd, ultimately inciting them to revolt against the conspirators.

Q & A

Why did Brutus and his allies decide to murder Julius Caesar?

Brutus and his allies believed Caesar's popularity and potential ambition posed a threat to the Roman Republic. They feared that Caesar might become too powerful and, like a serpent's egg, would eventually become a dangerous ruler. They justified his death as a preemptive strike to preserve Rome's freedom.

How did Brutus convince the Roman people that Caesar's death was justified?

Brutus delivered a logical and reasoned speech explaining that Caesar’s ambition threatened the Republic. He portrayed the murder as a necessary action to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant, and the crowd was convinced by his argument, supporting the assassination.

What dilemma does Mark Antony face after Caesar's assassination?

Mark Antony faces the challenge of balancing his loyalty to Caesar and the need to appear agreeable to the conspirators. He is heartbroken but must act carefully to avoid angering Brutus and the other assassins while still seeking to sway the Roman crowd against Caesar's murderers.

What was Antony's first strategy in his speech to the Roman people?

Antony begins his speech gently, indicating he is not there to defend Caesar but to fulfill his role in burying him. He also uses language that appears to align with Brutus’s justification of Caesar’s death, subtly planting doubts in the crowd’s mind about the righteousness of the murder.

How does Antony use repetition in his speech, and what effect does it have?

Antony repeatedly uses the words 'ambitious' and 'honorable' throughout his speech. By repeating 'ambitious' in the context of Brutus’s claim, he subtly casts doubt on its validity. Repetition of 'honorable' eventually desensitizes the crowd to its meaning, undermining Brutus’s honor and suggesting dishonor.

What are the three examples Antony provides to show Caesar’s good character?

The three examples Antony provides are: 1) Caesar brought captives to Rome and used their ransoms for the public good, 2) Caesar wept when the poor cried, and 3) Caesar refused a kingly crown three times, demonstrating humility rather than ambition.

What role do rhetorical questions play in Antony's speech?

Antony uses rhetorical questions like 'Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?' and 'Was this ambition?' to emphasize the obvious flaws in the reasoning behind Caesar’s murder. These questions invite the crowd to reflect on their emotions and agree with Antony without explicitly telling them what to think.

How does Antony use guilt to manipulate the Roman crowd?

Antony plays on the crowd’s past affection for Caesar, asking why they aren’t mourning his death. He accuses them of hypocrisy and likens them to 'brutish beasts,' appealing to their emotions and making them feel guilty for not honoring Caesar, thus inciting sympathy for him.

What effect does Antony’s mention of Caesar's will have on the crowd?

By teasing the contents of Caesar’s will, Antony builds suspense and excitement among the crowd, making them eager to hear it. When he reveals that Caesar left money and land to the people, this further incites their anger against the conspirators, pushing them towards revolt.

How does Antony humanize Caesar in his speech?

Antony humanizes Caesar by focusing on his physical body, describing the 23 stab wounds and identifying which conspirator inflicted each one. He also speaks of Caesar’s personal qualities, such as his friendship and faithfulness, making him seem more like a victim of betrayal rather than just a political figure.