Mark Antonys Speech

A detailed Summary of Mark Antonys Speech

In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Antony confronts a crowd that is against him and on the side of the conspirators who just killed Caesar. In order to turn the crowd to his side; Antony uses rhetorical questions, appeals, and irony in his speech to the people. Without breaking his word not to wrong the conspirators, Antony indirectly persuades the crowd that the conspirators were wrong in killing Caesar and that Caesar's death should be avenged.

The use of rhetorical questions in Antony's speech causes the crowd to question whether or not what the conspirators claimed to be true. For example, when Antony asked the crowd, "I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?" (I: 24-25). This reminds the crowd that Brutus said that Caesar was ambitious. In effect, they wonder if Brutus was actually right or not. He also asked, "You loved him once, not without cause; what cause withholds you then to mourn for him?" (I: 30-31). This question reminds the crowd of how their lives were before Caesar was killed. T

Irony is a noteworthy application that Antony uses in his speech. For example, "Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up to such sudden flood of mutiny." (IV: 1-2). Antony's soul purpose is to make the crowd angry. Antony knows that by saying this it will upset the crowd even more, which in fact is exactly what he is trying to do because the conspirators were wrong and he wants them suffer along side of Caesar. "And being men, hearing the will of Caesar, it will inflame you. It will make you mad." (II: 24-25). This is also ironic because Antony does want to make them mad. He wants to make the crowd anxious to hear the will. "I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts." (IV: 7). Antony did want to steal their hearts and uses this to make the crowd more at ease. He wanted to change

Through this use of rhetorical questions, appeals, and irony, Antony does turn the crowd against the conspirators. This shows the effectiveness of the way he used these devices. In persuading the crowd to be on Caesar's side, Antony displays the power of these rhetorical dev

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Approximate Word count = 735
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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