Paul Masih
26 Sept 2024
Contrasting Ambitions: The Characterization of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony
Critical Analysis of the Two Extracts from Julius Caesar
The two excerpts from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar—Brutus’ and Antony’s speeches—are pivotal to the play, both in terms of the rhetorical strategies employed and the dramatic outcomes they bring about. These speeches serve as critical moments where public perception is shaped, leading to the eventual downfall of Brutus and the other conspirators.
Brutus’ Speech
Rhetoric and Justification:
Brutus' speech, delivered directly after Caesar’s assassination, is an appeal to logic and civic duty. His primary argument hinges on the notion of sacrifice for the greater good of Rome. Brutus emphasizes that while he loved Caesar, he loved Rome more. This reflects his belief that Caesar’s ambition posed a direct threat to the freedom of the Roman Republic, suggesting that if Caesar had been allowed to live, Romans would have been reduced to slavery.
Key points from Brutus’ speech include:
Appeal to Logic (Logos): He carefully structures his argument by presenting himself as a man of reason, posing rhetorical questions like “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves?” This appeals to the audience’s rationality and positions the murder as a preventive measure for the sake of Rome’s freedom.
Honor as Justification: Brutus emphasizes his personal honor repeatedly, asking the crowd to believe in his integrity: “believe me for mine honor.” This creates a sense of moral righteousness and positions him as a virtuous leader who made a difficult but necessary decision.
Patriotism: The speech highlights the idea of loyalty to Rome over personal relationships. Brutus stresses that he acted not out of personal hatred but out of love for Rome: "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more."
Tone:
The tone of Brutus’ speech is calm, controlled, and rational. He is confident that his honorable intentions will persuade the crowd, and at first, it does. The citizens initially express support for Brutus, with cries of “Live, Brutus! live, live!” The speech is devoid of emotional manipulation, focusing instead on reasoned argumentation. However, the absence of emotional appeal leaves the crowd vulnerable to Antony’s subsequent oration.
Limitations:
Overconfidence in Reason: Brutus overestimates the power of reason and underestimates the emotional attachment of the people to Caesar. His speech lacks the emotional depth needed to sustain the crowd's allegiance.
Naiveté in Allowing Antony to Speak: Despite Cassius’ warnings, Brutus allows Antony to speak after him, confident that he has already won the crowd’s favor. This decision proves disastrous, as Antony’s speech shifts the public's mood.
Antony’s Speech
Rhetoric and Manipulation:
In contrast to Brutus, Antony’s speech is a masterclass in rhetorical manipulation and emotional appeal. Antony ostensibly begins by adhering to the restrictions placed on him—he praises Brutus and the conspirators as "honorable men"—but he subverts this praise by casting doubt on Brutus' reasoning.
Key points in Antony’s speech:
Irony and Repetition: Antony’s refrain, “Brutus is an honorable man,” becomes increasingly ironic as he contrasts Brutus’ words with Caesar’s actions. For example, Antony reminds the crowd that Caesar refused the crown three times, questioning the accusation of ambition.
Appeal to Emotion (Pathos): Antony masterfully appeals to the crowd's emotions by invoking their memories of Caesar’s kindness, showing them Caesar’s bloodied cloak, and referring to the conspirators as “butchers.” He amplifies this emotional manipulation by displaying Caesar’s wounds, stating, “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.” His dramatic use of Caesar’s will—which promises wealth to the citizens—further incites the crowd’s grief and anger.
Playing on the Crowd’s Sympathy: By showing Caesar's dead body and highlighting the brutality of the assassination, Antony invokes feelings of pity and betrayal. His mention of the will, where Caesar leaves his wealth and properties to the Roman people, escalates the citizens' rage against the conspirators.
Tone:
Antony’s tone shifts throughout the speech. It starts measured and restrained, as he plays the part of a loyal friend who merely wants to bury Caesar and not stir rebellion. However, as the speech progresses, his tone becomes increasingly emotional, peaking when he shows Caesar’s body. Antony’s use of dramatic pauses and false humility ("I am no orator, as Brutus is") allows him to appear sincere, all the while subtly inflaming the crowd.
Manipulation and Control:
Antony's Subtle Incitement: Antony never directly tells the citizens to revolt. Instead, he leaves subtle suggestions, allowing the crowd to draw its own conclusions. He even pretends to downplay his own influence, saying, "I am no orator, as Brutus is," while masterfully swaying the public's opinion through sheer emotion and imagery.
Engagement with the Crowd: Antony involves the crowd actively by promising to read Caesar’s will and then teasingly withholding it, thereby building suspense. This tactic ensures that the crowd remains engaged and emotionally invested in his speech.
Success:
By the end of Antony’s speech, the mood of the crowd has completely shifted. They go from hailing Brutus as a hero to calling for the conspirators’ blood. Antony’s manipulation is complete, as the crowd, inflamed by grief and anger, runs riot in the streets, leading to the eventual civil war.
Comparison and Contrast:
Content:
Brutus argues based on principles and logic. His justification for Caesar’s death is Caesar’s alleged ambition and the danger it posed to Roman liberty. Antony, on the other hand, leverages emotional manipulation and uses Caesar’s memory and corpse to sway the crowd.
Rhetorical Strategy:
Brutus uses logos (reason) to persuade, relying on his reputation and the audience’s sense of logic. Antony relies on pathos (emotion), using vivid imagery and personal anecdotes about Caesar’s goodness to turn the crowd against the conspirators.
Tone:
Brutus maintains a formal and stoic tone, whereas Antony's speech is dramatic, emotional, and performative. Antony’s tone gradually intensifies, tapping into the crowd's grief, anger, and sense of betrayal.
Impact on the Crowd:
Brutus initially succeeds in calming the crowd and garnering their support. However, Antony’s speech undoes Brutus’ work entirely. The public’s loyalty shifts as they are swayed by Antony’s emotional appeal, resulting in a violent mob mentality.
Conclusion:
The two speeches in Julius Caesar showcase the power of rhetoric in shaping public opinion. While Brutus appeals to the Roman citizens’ sense of duty and honour, Antony manipulates their emotions, stirring them to mutiny. The contrast between the two speeches highlights the tension between reason and emotion, logic and rhetoric, and ultimately the fragile nature of power. Antony’s ability to sway the crowd signifies the turning point in the play, leading to the fall of Brutus and the rise of chaos in Rome.
Here are the fill-in-the-blank questions without answers:
Brutus claims that he loved Caesar, but he loved ______ more.
According to Brutus, Caesar was killed because of his ______.
Brutus addresses the public by asking if they would prefer to live as ______ under Caesar’s rule.
Antony refers to Brutus and the conspirators as "_______ men" throughout his speech.
In his speech, Antony repeatedly reminds the crowd that Caesar refused the ______ three times.
Brutus tells the people that he rose against Caesar not out of hatred, but out of ______ for Rome.
Antony uses the phrase "lend me your ______" to get the attention of the crowd.
Antony shows the crowd Caesar’s ______ to stir their emotions and gain sympathy.
Brutus asks if anyone is so ______ that they would rather live as a slave.
Antony reads Caesar’s ______, which leaves money and land for the people of Rome.
After hearing Antony's speech, the citizens start calling Caesar ______.
Brutus says he has the same ______ for himself, should Rome ever require it.
Antony refers to Caesar’s stab wounds as "poor, poor dumb ______."
Brutus declares that Caesar was ______, and that is why he had to be killed.
Antony claims that Caesar’s ______ "should be made of sterner stuff" to show he was not ambitious.
ANSWERS
Here are the answers to the fill-in-the-blank questions:
Brutus claims that he loved Caesar, but he loved Rome more.
According to Brutus, Caesar was killed because of his ambition.
Brutus addresses the public by asking if they would prefer to live as slaves under Caesar’s rule.
Antony refers to Brutus and the conspirators as "honourable men" throughout his speech.
In his speech, Antony repeatedly reminds the crowd that Caesar refused the crown three times.
Brutus tells the people that he rose against Caesar not out of hatred, but out of love for Rome.
Antony uses the phrase "lend me your ears" to get the attention of the crowd.
Antony shows the crowd Caesar’s wounds to stir their emotions and gain sympathy.
Brutus asks if anyone is so base that they would rather live as a slave.
Antony reads Caesar’s will, which leaves money and land for the people of Rome.
After hearing Antony's speech, the citizens start calling Caesar noble.
Brutus says he has the same dagger for himself, should Rome ever require it.
Antony refers to Caesar’s stab wounds as "poor, poor dumb mouths."
Brutus declares that Caesar was ambitious, and that is why he had to be killed.
Antony claims that Caesar’s ambition "should be made of sterner stuff" to show he was not ambitious.
