Julius Ceasar -Mark Antony

A detailed Summary of Julius Ceasar -Mark Antony

Antony has been described as "a self-seeking politician of no scruples." Do you agree? Support your answer with close reference to the text.

Antony appears to be loyal to Caesar, but his loyalty hides his underlying deceitful nature. Antony uses Caesar's death to his advantage. Antony capitalises on the opportunity it presents and progresses to become the victor and ruler of Rome.

There is no doubt that early in the play Antony is portrayed as a very loyal and trustworthy character. Caesar trusts him and holds him as a close friend. As seen when Caesar calls on Antony's opinions about Cassius "tell me truly what thou think'st of him" as at the time Caesar was ruler, and it was very rare that rulers ask people for their opinions unless they were a close friend. Antony's loyalty is shown when Caesar asks him to touch Calphurnia on the holly chase. Antony replies "When Caesar says 'Do this,' it is perform'd" this shows Antony is loyal, and obedient to Caesars will.

After Caesar's death Antony again shows his loyalty, and asks if he is to be killed, he would like to be killed by the side of the noble Caesar. "If I myself, there is no hour so fit As Caesar's death's hour" "No place will please me so, no mean of death, As here

At the start of act five, Octavius Tells Antony that the army's have gone the opposite way to what they had planned for. Antony says that the soldiers are just trying to scare them. After a messenger has given them news that the battle is approaching, Antony assumes the role of the leader, and orders Octavius to "lead the army on". This shows how Antony is assuming the role of the leader, and that Octavius does not like this, for he puts Antony on his left hand. "I; keep thou the left" (this is a sign of disrespect)

However, Antony then appears to make friends with the conspirators when he addresses them after Caesars death "Friends I am with you all, and love you all". Here Antony shows true deceit, for Antony is not their friend, but rather their enemy. "Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!" and pronounces that he will create war among the people to revenge Caesars death. "Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all parts of Italy...Caesar's spirit raging for revenge...Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war" Antony is the one who creates the war, this plays to his advantage because he eventually becomes king.

by Caesar" this shows that he holds Caesar as a very noble man, and that he loved him.

It is necessary to analyse both Brutus's speech and Antony's to see how Antony 's appeals to the crowd cause a civil war. Brutus justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in Antony's speech, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar. The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators.

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Approximate Word count = 1798
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English