Mark Antony, in the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, was a brave, intelligent, pleasure-loving, and cunning man. He was loyal to his friend, Caesar, whom he considered a true friend. He looked at life as a game in which he had a signified part to play, and played that part with excellent refinement and skill. Antony was devoted and preferred to be dependent upon Julius Caesar since he rather have enjoyed life than to claim the highest position in the government. He wanted the crown to be given to Caesar so that all conflicts could be avoided. However, this additional power contributed to the conspirator's motive to assassinate him. Antony was distraught with Caesar's death and sought revenge first by speaking to the crowd in his …show more content…
However, he felt his duty was to carry on Caesar's reign and clear his name. Therefore he joined the Second Triumvirate and became a great leader. Antony was looked down upon by all the conspirators except for Brutus. They wanted to kill Antony as well as Caesar because they feared that he would become as powerful as him and possibly a dictator. Brutus persuaded the others not to add to the assassination by saying, "And for Mark Antony, think not of him: for he can do no more than Caesar's arm when Caesar's head is off"(2.1.181-183). Brutus underestimated Antony and perceived him as a person who didn't always take life seriously, couldn't have a serious nature and therefore, not a thinker. Brutus continued to argue with Cassius who did not believe him. "Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him. If he love Caesar, all that he can do is to himself -- take thought and die for Caesar. And that were much he should, for he is given to sports, to wildness, and much company (2.1.185-189). Brutus judged him as being frivolous, and simply liking sport and partying, with a reputation for womanizing. Unfortunately for Brutus and the conspirators he was respected by Caesar and so simply couldn't be ignored. Caesar respected Antony, and his way of life. He defended him when he said, "See! Antony, that revels (makes merry) long a-nights, is notwithstanding (however) up. Good morrow, Antony" (2.4.116-117).
Additionally, Shakespeare depicts Marc Antony as an overall loyal and devoted person that is always there for Caesar when needed. He is often displayed as a “suck-up” that has no backbone- someone who simply cannot stand on their own and even express their own thoughts all because of their loyalty to another. This is accurate when Antony himself says to Caesar, “When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform’d,” ( JC 1.2.13). Antony’s full approach toward can be mostly summed up by just that one statement. By expressing this to Caesar, it is evident to readers that Antony has strong devotion toward Caesar. On the contrary, it is also evident that Antony is just as loyal to himself as he is to Caesar. If Antony has really only ever been loyal to Caesar,
Antony did not have such an elite status in his play up until Caesar died, but many peasants called Antony noble throughout Julius Caesar. For example, they said, "There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony," (Shakespeare 3.2.114). Thus, Antony was considered noble even by the common man. His noble reputation was further established by his devout commitment to Caesar. Antony's loyalty to Caesar is first made apparent when he offers Caesar the crown. Casca exclaimed, "I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown," (Shakespeare 1.2.236-237) which is a simple gesture with a powerful message. It shows the people that Antony is no foe to Caesar and wishes to see his friend succeed as leader. No jealousy or scheme to overthrow Caesar was hinted at by Antony. Moreover, he vouched to die when Caesar did: "I shall not find myself so apt to die; No place will please me
Brutus and Antony both talk about how Caesar was one of their friends. Neither one knew for sure whether Caesar would become ambitious, but they both loved their country. No one wanted to become slaves under Caesar. Brutus states in Act III, Scene ii, Lines 24-27, “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (Holt 831). Caesar had to die so that the Romans
Mark Antony was a Roman General and Statesman that was always following orders from Caesar. Antony was extremely loyal to Caesar doing whatever he asked of him. Being Caesar’s second hand man wouldn’t be too bad of a gig for just any man, but all day everyday being just someone’s sidekick it would be understandable to be enraged, but somehow he wasn't. Antony was extremely loyal to Caesar, for instance Mark Antony replies to Caesar by saying “So to most noble Caesar” (II.ii.1104)) after just making a simple statement and he defends him long after his death while speaking at his funeral. Antony and Julius went through many hardships together in their first years together which is probably why they became so close. In 46 BC Caesar wanted Antony to pay for the property that he stole after the battle against the Pompeians. For a while it was thought that the property had been paid for but it had actually been stolen. This caused a disagreement between the two and Antony was so enraged that he killed many civilians in Rome for no apparent reason which forced Caesar to remove Antony
He is portrayed as a faithful and devoted companion to Caesar despite the threat the conspirators pose after Caesar’s death. Antony acts to avenge Caesar though he knows how dangerous these choices are. He speaks to the people and turns them against the conspirators, which is a direct violation of his instructions, and fights alongside the romans to get revenge for Caesar’s death. He believes that Caesar was not power-hungry like Brutus says and also that he was a just ruler.
Brutus and Mark Antony both loved Caesar but they both spoke differently to the audiences leaving them with completely different impressions that defined the outcome of the play deciding who would survive. Mark Antony was very persuasive and Brutus was more honorable. They were both friends with Caesar, very good friends, they didn't doubt that Caesar was a good person they just didn't think he was right for Rome.
Antony has been on Caesar's side since day one. He has been loyal to him since the beginning of the play. Caesar trusts him and at the end of the play it pays off. Antony does not join the conspirators and he refuses to kill Caesar. Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators lure Caesar out of the house to inevitably stab him causing his death.
Antony greaves Caesar’s death more than anybody. Antony was like a son to Caesar and feels like he has lost someone very important to him. Antony is very smart and doesn’t try to avenge Caesar on his own, but rather let the people of Rome avenge Caesar. In Act III, Sc. 2 Antony says, “ The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious” (ln. 74-75). Antony is trying to tell the crowd that Brutus was tricking them and that Caesar should have not died. Antony welcomes the group of Romans to help him bury Caesar. Antony tells the crowd how Brutus said Caesar was ambitious, but then gives examples of how Brutus was ambitious. Antony tells how Brutus brought many captives home to Rome and paid for those captives with government funds. Antony then goes on to tell how Caesar helped the poor. Antony compares Caesar to Brutus and tells how Caesar was a better man than Brutus. Antony is trying to win over the crowd by giving them facts and evidence that Brutus was wrong about killing Caesar. In Act III, Sc. 2 Antony says, “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And sure he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know.” (ln
Antony wanted Caesar to be remembered by those things. The things he fought for so Rome could have a great legacy. Antony knew Caesar had his faults, but that was his friend, and he was a loyal friend. Antony wanted the citizens of Rome to reconsider Caesar’s death. He wanted them to come to their own conclusion on how Brutus, Caesar dearest friend, not only murdered Caesar, but broke his heart.
Cassius suggests also killing Antony, saying, “Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,/ Should outlive Caesar; we shall find of him/ A shrewd contriver” (Shakespeare 788). Cassius is worried that if Mark Antony lives, he will make life hard for the conspirators and possibly try to get revenge for Caesar’s death. However, Brutus says that they are not killing Caesar with malice, but doing what must be done for the good of Rome; they are going to “kill him boldly” (Shakespeare 788). However, if they were to kill Antony, there would be no noble purpose for it and it would simply be vicious murder. He justifies this by saying “Antony is but a limb of Caesar…he can do not more than Caesar’s arm/ When Caesar’s head is off” (Shakespeare
Antony is responsible for the death of Cinna the Poet, a completely innocent bystander. In act three scene three, some of the citizens find Cinna the Poet and decide to kill him just because he shares a name with one of the conspirators. “I am not Cinna the conspirator./ It is no matter. His name’s Cinna./ Pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him/ going” (JC. 3.3. 33-36). In addition, Antony says he will take some of the money that Caesar left for the citizens in his will and use it for the military. The text shows that Antony said, “But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house;/ Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine/ How to cut off some charge in legacies” (JC. 4.1. 9-11). Although he wanted to use that money for the military, he was still stealing money. Despite having good intentions at heart, Antony caused a great deal of commotion in the people of Rome. He even says during one of his speeches that the people of Rome should cause mutiny. “...But were I Brutus,/ And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony/ Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue/ In every wound of Caesar that should move/ The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny” (JC. 3.2. 239-243). All this evidence shows that Antony, because of the anger he felt for the death of his friend, started to become
In his soliloquy, Antony praised Caesar’s great personality but at the same time, he would keep saying positive things about Brutus. An example is when he says, “He was my friend, faithful and just to me; / But Brutus says he was ambitious, / And Brutus is an honorable man.” (3.2.85-87). The way in which he spoke and by telling the citizens the context of Caesar’s will, turned the mob against Brutus and the rest of the conspirators. The anger possessed by the countrymen can be shown when a plebeian says, “Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death!” (2.2.244). This betrayal by Antony caused Brutus to break off their friendship.
Although Mark Antony won the argument over Brutus one of the factors was he's use of ethos. Brutus use of ethos was not as strong nor effective as Antony's. These are some examples of the characters use of ethos “ If there be any in this assembly, any dear of Caesars, to him I say, that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his” by Brutus and “ Friends, Romans country men, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar not to praise him” which gives a glimpse of how sneaky Antony was by saying he wasn't there to praise Caesar but in the end he got the people to turn on Brutus.
Firstly, Mark Antony acted loyal to Caesar. Act 1 scene 2 line 9-10 says, ‘I shall remember: when Caesar says,” Do this,” it is preform’d.’ Mark acquiesced to every word spoken by Julius, no matter how absurd or inconvenient. Furthermore, the troubled man loved Julius to the end. Seeing Caesars body, the grieving man wept openly. After his time of grief, Antony proceeded to shake the hands of his friend’s murderers. In doing this, he stated, ‘That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ‘tis true.’(Act 3 Scene 1 line 194). Clearly, he loved his friend to the last. Evidently, the devoted friend stayed loyal to Caesar even after his death.
Julius Caesar’s ambition for power drove the honorable Brutus to think negatively about Julius Caesar’s position of being the King of Rome. Negatively speaking, Julius Caesar’s ways of having most of the power and deciding not to listen to others except the ones that only tell him things he likes to hear, drove the power-hungary conspirators and the honorable Brutus to take his life away. The honorable Brutus shows his love for Rome by committing an act which he seems best fit for his city. Trying everything he can to put Rome in a democracy, the only solution he saw was to join the conspirators to murder Caesar and explain to the people why they committed such an act. A great friend of Julius Caesar Mark Antony, stood up for many things