Skip to main content

What are some strengths of Mark Antony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Mark Antony is persuasive, politically savvy, and ruthless. 


Mark Antony took advantage of Caesar’s death, even if he wasn’t complicit in it. He convinced Brutus he would go along with whatever the conspirators had planned, but then used the pulpit Brutus gave him to sway the people of Rome to his side. Antony also tried to get Octavius to follow his lead, but that was a little more difficult. 


When Caesar was killed, Antony...

Mark Antony is persuasive, politically savvy, and ruthless. 


Mark Antony took advantage of Caesar’s death, even if he wasn’t complicit in it. He convinced Brutus he would go along with whatever the conspirators had planned, but then used the pulpit Brutus gave him to sway the people of Rome to his side. Antony also tried to get Octavius to follow his lead, but that was a little more difficult. 


When Caesar was killed, Antony acted immediately. He sent word to Octavius not to come into the city, and then arranged a meeting with Brutus. Over Caesar’s dead body, Antony shook hands with the conspirators and convinced Brutus let him speak to the public. 


Antony uses his speech to turn the people of Rome against the conspirators. He starts off by seemingly praising Brutus and the others, but it soon becomes clear he is actually accusing them. 



O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men (Act III, Scene 2).



Antony's speech works; the now-angry mob runs the conspirators out of town. Antony joins forces with Octavius and Lepidus, and the three of them begin a transcription. Antony feels he has the most military experience and should be in charge.


Antony demonstrates his ruthlessness with his callous reaction to his nephew’s conscription. 



LEPIDUS


Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.


ANTONY


He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies (Act IV, Scene 1).



Antony tries to convince Octavius to agree to do what he says, but if Antony says to go left, Octavius wants to go right. Octavius's age — he is just a teenager — and relative lack of military experience does not convince Octavius to follow Antony’s lead. This will be a problem later, even though Octavius and Antony's side wins and Brutus and Cassius kill themselves.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more