Rhetorical Devices in Mark Antony’s Funerary Speech from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

While giving speeches, people use certain rhetorical devices with the intention of obtaining a certain outcome. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony stands on the capitol steps, addressing Rome’s countrymen. He speaks on the demerits of Brutus on March 15, 44 B.C. at the capitol building in Rome, just after Brutus assassinated a beloved ruler. In his speech, Antony urges the Romans to recognize Julius Caesar’s merits and Brutus and the conspirator’s immoral act, all while adopting the persona of an emotional friend of the people.

In the beginning of his speech, Mark Antony establishes a friendly persona while he creates a feeling of urgency for revolt. He begins by addressing the crowd as “Friends, Romans, countrymen” (JC 3.2.74). After listening to Brutus’s persuasive speech, Mark Antony understands that he must appeal to the audience through a different approach to gain supporters. Antony specifically uses an informal “Friends” to unify himself with the Romans, which provides the Romans a sense of trustworthiness in the stranger that will destroy a beloved general’s reputation. In addition, Antony he leaves out the “and” in “Friends, Romans, countrymen” (JC 3.2.74). Antony uses asyndeton and omits the conjunction between “Romans, countrymen” to create a rushing rhythm as well as a feeling of urgency because he needs the public to understand that Brutus is a villain. In addition, he uses the asyndeton to prove to the public that friendship is an urgent matter, which further builds the public’s trust in Antony. To conclude his introduction, Mark Antony asks the public to lend him their ears (JC 3.2.74). However, he does not literally mean that they should remove their ears and lend them to him, but instead, he uses it to...

... middle of paper ...

...rpose is to revolt the audience, so by refusing to read the testament, Antony creates the climax within his speech and lights the fire in the crowd. After building the base to his justification, Mark Antony returns to his relationship with the people and ends his speech with an unforgettable stunt that ensures a specific outcome.

Mark Antony’s oration has a monumental impact on the Romans due to its effectiveness and variety of moves. He uses the death of a beloved ruler to his advantage by evoking emotions, which allows Antony to persuade the audience into believing that Brutus and the conspirators are gruesome beings. Mark Antony manages to have the citizens of Rome revolt against Brutus and the other conspirators.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.” Elements of Literature: Kylene Beers. Austin: Holt, 2009. 842-963. Print.