Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony calls upon “Friends, Romans, [and] countrymen” to lend their ears to him in order to convince the populace of Rome to rise against the conspirators that had murdered him. The main conspirators, Casca, Cassius, and Brutus, portray Caesar as a tyrannical ruler with a terrible ambition for power and express that in killing Caesar, they have only done what is best for Rome. However, after indirectly dispelling Brutus’ claim that Caesar was ambitious, Mark Antony’s rhetoric persuades the auditors into a state of rebellion through his cunning use of language. Antony veils his words when speaking to the crowd of Romans because he is given permission to speak at the funeral on the one condition

of not undermining the conspirators.
Antony, who is distrusted by the conspirators due to his friendship with Caesar prior to his speech, is granted permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral by Brutus.

However, this is only after Brutus explains the reasons behind the assassination of Caesar. Brutus also states that he may do this on the condition that Antony does not display the Senators in a bad light. Although Antony agrees, he makes the most of his having the last word by masterfully delivering words that are meant to stir the crowd. He then progressively and repetitively mentions the terms honorable and ambition, which put both under the microscope for the plebians. Antony then begins work on persuading the crowd that Brutus was wrong in killing Caesar and that Caesar should actually be

avenged.
Mark Antony repeatedly states that “Brutus is an honorable man,” which reveals much about the character of both Antony and Brutus. In repeating this idea that Brutus is honorable, it questions whether Brutus is actually an honorable man and also whether or not he should be, that is, whether or not he is deserved of that honor. Rome believes that Brutus is a noble man that places the well being of the people before his own. However, Antony uses this against him and subtly, indirectly, leads the people to believe that Brutus claims to be honorable because he killed Julius Caesar. In this moment of his oration he sways the crowd’s misgivings about Caesar to anger at Brutus for committing such an act. Despite Brutus’ high standing in Rome, he is not reputable enough to outweigh the motives that Antony prods at.
Antony then produces Caesar’s will, which he refuses to read to them.

He then deceptively tells the crowd to “have patience” because he does not wish to “wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar” in reading them the will. This portrays Antony as honorable amongst the people, as he does not wish to tear down the reputation of another man. When the crowd responds with shouts of “they were traitors. ‘Honorable’ men,” Antony knows he has them in the palm of his hand. It is then that Antony delivers the coup-de-grace by revealing to the crowd Caeser’s will, which promises, “every Roman citizen [...] seventy-five drachmas.” Unlike Brutus, Antony is more connected with the people of Rome in his speech. Rather than speaking logically and intellectually, Antony’s words come from a place of emotion and relatability, and in doing so establishes a sense of camaraderie with the

commoners.
Finally, Antony allows the crowd to take form as a riot out for revenge when he states, “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou course thou wilt.” In these words Mark Antony’s playing on the hearts of the Roman people blurs the fine line between persuasion and manipulation.
Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral deceitfully hides his agenda to sway the masses to his side against Brutus. His use of repetition, employment of pathos, and generally outstanding rhetoric changes a crowd that once thought Brutus to be honorable, into a crowd that wants him dead. His use of language transform a once decent, honorable action into a terrible, heinous crime that needs to be punished. Conclusively, without Antony’s speech, Julius Caesar’s murder would not have been the object of enragement for all of the Roman people.