Mark Antony's Speech Analysis

Brutus and the conspirators had just killed Julius Caesar and Marc Antony was a loyal friend of Caesar. Marc Antony was allowed by Brutus to speak to the Romans if he did not speak negatively about Brutus or the conspirators. He was persuasive and effective at making the Romans question what they truly think about Brutus and the conspirators and what they did. Marc Antony connects with the audience by appealing to their emotions, establishing the good Caesar did, discrediting Brutus and the conspirators, utilizing specific word choices, and using the rule of three. By using rhetorical devices Marc Antony appeals to the Roman audience who is against him.

Marc Antony effectively establishes a connection with the Romans by appealing to their emotions. To convince the Romans to be on his side he needed to do this. The speech started off by saying “Friends…” as his opening word. He addresses the Romans as if he knows each of them personally. Next, he says, “Romans, countrymen.” To show they are all united through Rome he expresses his connection with the audience. In his opening line, he refers to them as if they are equals despite the fact that he is a general and politician. Later in the speech, the Romans are reminded that they used to love Caesar. He says, “You all did love him once, not without cause.” He wants to bring up the Romans' past emotions for Caesar to convince them that this may not be what they wanted. The speech ends with his feelings toward Caesar to show the Romans how they might also potentially feel. In his last words, he states, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.” He wants the Romans to be left with his genuine opinion. Through the quotes above, he appeals to their emotions which indirectly encourages them to feel the same way he does after his speech. 

Marc Antony wants to show the people the righteous Caesar did for them without overstepping his boundaries with Brutus. All the good qualities and actions of Caesar are stated by Marc Antony but then is followed by Brutus was right. Direct evidence is given as to why Caesar was a honorable man to back up Marc Antony’s perspective. For instance, Marc Antony says, “He hath brought many captives home to Rome; '' this was something beneficial Caesar did that he wants the Romans to remember. Marc Antony follows this statement by expressing that Brutus said he was ambitious, so he must be, to comply with Brutus’ rules. Antony also refers to Caesar as faithful. His words are, “He was my friend, faithful and just to me.”  A virtuous quality of Caesar is shown but then is followed up with, “just to me.” He does this so he does not upset Brutus by saying Caesar was faithful to everyone, he just shows his direct relationship with Caesar. Another example is when Antony brings up Caesar’s sympathy for the poor. He says when the poor cried so did Caesar. Sympathy was another good quality of Caesar that he wanted the people to remember. Again, Antony follows his statement with but Brutus said he was ambitious and Brutus is an honorable man so it is essentially true. For a third time, a story is shared where Caesar shows humbleness. He mentions that he presented the crown three times to Caesar and Caesar denied it three times. The Romans are shown that Caesar wanted the best for his people. Marc Antony once again follows it up with, “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious.” Distrust is created between the Romans and Brutus, by giving evidence that conflicts with Brutus’ statement that Marc Antony places right after the stories. Antony not only shows the good qualities of Caesar but in doing so he brings down Brutus and the conspirators’ motives. 

An agreement with Brutus was made that Marc Antony was allowed to give a speech as long as he does not discredit Brutus or the conspirators. Although, that is Marc Antony’s plan. His disapproval of Brutus and the conspirators is expressed indirectly and without explicitly breaking the agreement. One example is in the beginning of his speech he states, “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” The Romans are delighted that Brutus and the conspirators assassinated Caesar, they do not want to hear Marc Antony praise Caesar. He says this because he wants to give the people what they want before he later contradicts it. Next, he says, “The evil that men do lives after; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar.” Implied is that he is speaking about Caesar but really he is referring to Brutus, the conspirators, and the Romans. Although the Romans believe Caesar was evil, assassinating him was the real evil. Another example is when Marc Antony refers to Brutus. Multiple times he uses the phrase, “For Brutus is an honourable man” and he also refers to Brutus as noble in the beginning. These phrases are used in a passive-aggressive manner. Marc Antony does not agree with the statement and partners it with another statement that contradicts it afterward. Also inserted is Antony’s own opinion in the middle of the speech to express his feelings. He says, “Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.” By placing this in the middle of the speech it creates less attention but can still be meaningful. He does not agree with Brutus’ negative statement of calling Caesar ambitious. Without coming right out and blatantly disagreeing he says in his opinion his evidence is not adequate. At the end of the speech, he says, “And men have lost their reason” referring to Brutus, the conspirators, and the Romans. They have all gone blind and lost their reason for following Brutus. This contradicts what Marc Antony says at the beginning of his speech when he slightly praises Brutus. He wants the audience to hear and comprehend these contradicting statements to question what they believe is right. 

Marc Antony uses expressive and meaningful language to convey his true feelings about Caesar, Brutus, and the conspirators. The word, “ambitious” is used multiple times throughout the speech. This word is chosen because depending on the connotation it can be ambiguous. When Brutus uses the word to describe Caesar it is used as an unfavorable quality but Marc Antony takes the word and twists it to show Caesar in an honorable way. Antony also includes the words, “If it were so,” and “But” in his speech. Caesar’s qualities were never directly torn down by Marc Antony because he is a friend of his, but he must say certain things to appeal to Brutus. He shares dishonorable qualities of Caesar that others have said but then follows them up with positive qualities to contradict them. Another time when Marc Antony uses expressive language is when he says, “brutish beasts.” On one hand, it is a negative term to invoke the people. It also is a clever play on words in reference to Brutus. Subsequently, Marc Antony uses the word, “You.” He is speaking straight to the audience and calling them out for what they think, not what they were told to think. This engages the Romans in his speech more because it makes the words more personal. Marc Antony uses repetition of words to convey his side even further. 

All throughout the speech, Marc Antony speaks in threes. When speaking in threes it is a fact that it becomes more memorable to the people. Again in the opening line, he says, “Friends, Romans, countrymen…” Three different words are used to engage the people and connect on different levels. In the body of his speech, he tells three separate stories of Caesar showing three different likable qualities. Also, Marc Antony repeats, “Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man” three times. As said above, this line is important in contradicting Brutus so Marc Antony repeats it multiple times throughout the speech to make it emphasized and memorable to the audience. Towards the end of his speech, Marc Antony speaks to the Romans directly by using the word, “You.” He knows the Romans can develop their own true opinion but must emphasize it is on each of them individually. By speaking in threes he presents a pattern throughout the speech and highlights the most important parts to the Romans. If they do not hear or remember everything that was said he repeats the most valuable parts of his argument in hopes that those words will be remembered. 

In conclusion, Marc Antony needed to come up with subtle and creative ways to persuade the Romans to his side, without breaking his agreement with Brutus. He needed to connect with them without directly discrediting Brutus and the conspirators after they just assassinated his friend. Antony was successful in doing so through appealing to the Romans’ emotions, stating the good Caesar did for the people, indirectly disapproving of Brutus and the conspirators, utilizing specific word choices, and speaking in threes.