Rhetorical Analysis Of Mark Antony Speech

A noble man he was , Marc Antony took a stand for Julius Caesar , a trustworthy friend the actual “Honorable man” . Antony speech was so Effective to the people because he used a lot of rhetorical devices that evolved with the people feelings ,he had the commoner persuaded with his Pathos Appeal . He used repetition, sarcasm , and irony to convey his message .
To begin with , Marc Antony speech was held high to the commoners he used a lot of repetition to channel his Pathos Appeal to the commoners . Antony had spoke of Caesar and how he was not ambitious he said , “He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious ?”, (Shakespeare Act 3 ,Scene 2 : 88-90). Marc Antony used a list of Repetition , questioning the crowd so he could show that Julius was in fact not Ambitious as Brutus had said he was . The affect the Repetition had the crowd of commoner inquiring Brutus and was he such a trustworthy person after all. This went on throughout the whole speech Antony then goes on to say “You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a

kingly crown , which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition”, (Shakespeare Act 3, Scene 2 : 95-97) , these lines just mean that when Antony had handed the crown to Julius denied not once but 3 times in front of everybody . Antony showed if he was so ambitious he would’ve been took the crown but that was less of his worries , since he has epilepsy .
Furthermore , Antony use of sarcasm was effective to the Pathos appeal of the commoners that had them in havoc . Antony used the same statement over and over followed with a list of rhetorical questions (repetition) . He would say “ But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man….” . The video that we had listened to of the play you can clearly hear the sarcasm in his voice like, “Who are you joking he not a Honourable man” (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 2: 86-87) , He’s a “brutish beast” (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 2: 104- 105 ) , when Antony says this it reminds you of brutus of purpose , to show he is a monster . This the most important thing to me cause not only did he say it so emotional , but he said in the way the commoners could understand , cause it was clear they weren’t so bright . Antony had the commoners at this ready to burn the Conspirators , not only that but Brutus and Cassius flee town .
To interlace in with the Pathos appeal , Antony speech , just reading it was very emotional .

He had a lot of Irony to inquire the sarcasm . Antony was not only a servant to Caesar , but his wing man . Antony had to stop in mid - speech he said “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me” (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 2: 106- 107) , you can tell he is in deep grief even the commoners had said it while he was pause and getting himself together . Antony was loyal to Julius he goes to say “ He was my friend, faithful and just to me:”,( Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 2 : 85 ), not only does this show he was more than a servant to Julius but he was a friend , he did everything with him . So how can Brutus say he was so ambitious but how if the friend that he knew and they knew was kind and generous to all

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To conclude , Antony speech was effective to the commoners because how he came off with a Patho appeal , using Repetition , Sarcasm , and Irony .They all knew how and who Caesar was Brutus may of had them fooled momentarily , but Antony showed the commoners who the real beast was .