Julius Caesar (Play) by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

1.        Funeral speech of Mark Antony

2.        How does Antony turn the tables on the conspirators at Caesar’s funeral?

When Brutus and other conspirators stabbed Caescar to death, Mark Antony was shocked and frightened with fear. He runs away and took shelter in a safe place. A messenger from Antony comes to Brutus. He tells Brutus that Antony will love and honour Brutus, if Brutus gives him satisfactory explanation of Caesar’s murder.  Brutus agrees to it.  When Antony comes to Brutus, he tells Antony that Caesar was murdered because Brutus and his friends felt sympathy for the poor Romans who are suffering under the tyranny of Caesar. But Brutus and others have no plan to murder Antony.

But the explanation of Brutus does not satisfy Antony because it is not supported by evidence. So Antony asks Brutus why and wherein Caesar was dangerous. But Brutus does not answer the question. So Antony requests Brutus to let him produce Caesar’s dead body at the market place and make a funeral speech as a friend of Caesar. Brutus readily agrees to it. But Cassius opposes it because he knows how clever Antony is! Cassius is sure that Antony will fully exploit the situation to his advantage. Brutus tells Antony that Caesar shall have all true funeral rites and lawful ceremonies. But Antony should not blame the murderers and he can praise Caesar. Brutus asks Antony to prepare the dead boy and follow Brutus and others to market place.

At market place, Brutus speaks first. He says in his funeral speech that his love for Rome was greater than his love for Caesar. That was why he murdered Caesar. As Caesar was ambitious, he murdered him.  He did not want the Romans to live and die as slaves. Brutus was fully aware of Caesar’s good qualities and was ready to praise him for them. But Brutus could not show any evidence to prove that Caesar was tyrant and ambitious. That is the failure of Brutus’ speech. He has no deep insight into the character of the Roman mob.  He thinks that the common people are wise, intelligent and sincere. He does not know that the Roman mob is fickle-minded.

When the speech of Brutus is over, Antony comes up the pulpit.  His speech is full of irony and sarcasm. When Brutus addresses the Roman mob as Romans, countrymen and lovers.  But Antony begins his speech addressing them as friends, Romans and countrymen. Antony indirectly tells them that he is one among them as a friend. He does not show any air of superiority. Antony gives a number of examples to show that Caesar was not ambitious. He says that Brutus and his friends are honourable men and their words are true. But Antony shows evidences that Caesar was not ambitious. That was why Caesar rejected the crown thrice, when Antony offered him.