Julius Caesar

2 Pages 465 Words

In the tragedy of Julius Caesar, after the death of Caesar both Brutus and Antony spoke at Caesar’s funeral. Brutus finished his speech trying to convince the crowd that they did the right thing to kill Caesar because he was ambitious. Antony then enters with Caesar’s corpse awaiting his turn to speak to the Roman citizens. Antony begins by praising Caesar even though he claims that his intent is not to praise him, but to speak as a friend at Caesar’s funeral. As he continues to speak, it is clear that Antony uses physical evidence and emotions so the crowd can be persuaded to help in getting revenge for Caesars death.

Antony praises Caesar even though he claims that his intent is not to praise but to speak as a friend. Antony says “. . . when that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept –“ to let the citizens think that Caesar loved them. He used rhetorical sentences to play with the citizens’ minds. “. . . If I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong.” He says this in order to prove Brutus and Cassius wrong without making himself look like he is going against them. Antony pretends to like the conspirators so that they do not kill him so that he can get revenge for Caesar’s death. Antony tells them that he is not trying to convince them to go against the conspirators, but that is what he is doing by using physical evidence.

It becomes clear that Antony understands the feelings of the mob because he knows what they want and what they are expecting. He cries and one the citizens has sympathy towards him which then convinces the rest of the citizens to feel the same.

Antony used physical evidence and emotions, which persuaded them to go against the conspirators. “But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar- I found it in his closet- ‘tis his will.” but he then says he will not read it. Antony menti...