We meet the character of Mark Antony three times before Julius Caesar's death, although he speaks little and we don't get much insight into his character. Antony fully enters the opera exactly halfway through the drama, when he delivers a compelling speech and his eloquence changes the course of Roman history. From this point on, Antony becomes a key player in the action and begins to change the nature of events in the play, especially compared to Brutus and Cassius. He takes part in the struggle for power and is driven by the need to avenge Caesar's death. Antonio emerges as an extravagant character, but also stubborn, lucid and ambitious. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Mark Antony was Caesar's closest and most loyal friend, confidant, and follower. The two men had fought many campaigns together and knew each other very well. Antonio is the only character in the play who calls Cesare by name, "Giulio", a sign of their strong friendship. Antony had also offered Caesar the crown three times, signifying his generosity and devotion. We clearly see Antony's love and admiration for Caesar in the three brief statements he makes before Caesar's death, and over his corpse when he says, "you are the ruins of the noblest man / that ever lived in the course of the times". After the murder, he attempts to act as Caesar would have done. However, Mark Antony is also portrayed as a reveller and womanizer, "who revels in long nights" and is "addicted / to sport, wild nature, and much company." He leads an extravagant and indulgent lifestyle and is also portrayed as powerful and athletic. Antonio's numerous resources emerge throughout the work; eventually his character seems to have developed, and it becomes clear to the audience that he is a loyal general, militarily adept, as well as politically astute and exceptionally skilled at oration. Antony is similar to Caesar in that his power leads him to ambition. An important moment in the play that shows Antony's power and significance occurs when Caesar asks him to touch Calfurnia as he overtakes her in his race during the celebration of the festival of Lupercal. According to superstition, the touch of an athlete during this sacred festival would make a woman fertile, and the fact that Caesar chooses Antony to touch his wife suggests that he has trust and confidence in him, and perhaps even sees him as a protector. However, while Shakespeare kills off the character for whom the play is named, he maintains the dramatic tension by making Antonio emerge even more powerful than he initially seemed. Brutus makes a mistake in underestimating Antony's power, believing that he is not interested in politics and that he "can do nothing but Caesar's arm / When Caesar's head is off." As a result, Antonio becomes an annoying and dangerous rival for the conspirators. As Antony's power increases, so does his ambition, and after Caesar's death he proves to be a great opportunist, quickly devising a plan for revenge. Antony makes sure his servant witnesses his oration so he can use it to impress Octavius, Caesar's heir and Antony's ally. Antonio is planning well in advance, showing his high hopes for the future. From this point in the play, Antonio becomes ruthless and calculating, willing to use his power and abilities for his own purposes. His power over the people and his dizzying ambition become similar to those of Caesar. Antony confirms Cassius' judgment of him as a 'cunning mastermind' when he meets the conspirators after Caesar's murder. He claims he is now on 'slippery ground',and his words have a double meaning: both literally with blood, and metaphorically in that he opposes the conspirators, but must make them believe that he can still do business with them. Although initially at a loss for words, Antonio's skill as an orator, wit, and ability to deceive and manipulate allow him to hide his feelings, manage to pretend to be friends with the conspirators, and convince them to trust him. He begins by flattering them to seduce them, using metaphorical language, calling them "master spirits of this age". He has the nerve to call Caska “valiant” even though he knows Caska is duplicitous, and says “good Trebonius,” despite knowing that Trebonius put him aside so they could kill Caesar. Although on the surface it appears that Antony has betrayed Caesar's memory, he openly calls himself "either a coward or a flatterer," courageously speaking aloud the thoughts they are evidently thinking to themselves. His ability to seemingly see both sides of the issue and relate to the conspirators gives Antonio some protection from the evil intentions of these assassins. He finds himself in a delicate situation, but keeps them on the defensive by asking "reasons / Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous." Antony cleverly avoids having to deal with Cassius by taking advantage of Brutus' power and gullibility. She flatters him and attacks his weaknesses, naive sense of honor and nobility. Antony knows that Brutus wants to believe that he will side with them - he had said "I know that we will have him well as a friend" - and therefore takes advantage of Brutus's hope by deceptively telling the conspirators: "Friends, I am with you". everyone, and I love you all.' This construct allows Antony to receive permission to speak at Caesar's funeral, as it gives Brutus time to accept Antony and sympathize with him. Antony also makes a point of shaking hands with each conspirator, and as he does so he makes a mental note of each man's name, which allows him to improvise the act of murder later in his speech to the crowd. Antony calls some of the conspirators by two names rather than one (e.g., "Decius Brutus" rather than "Decius", which is unusual in everyday Roman life, although this formality emphasizes the tension of the moment). Antonio's plan is a gamble, which requires a lot of courage, even if dishonesty doesn't dissuade him. Compared to all the conspirators, and even Cassius, the most strategic and scheming of them all, Antony is strong and politically astute. As soon as the conspirators leave, Antony asks Caesar's corpse for forgiveness for having been "meek and kind to these". butchers'. This creates a strong contrast with the "gentlemen" he was talking about just before, and thus makes the audience aware that he is now able to express his true feelings and private thoughts, as well as underlining the falseness of his previous actions. Antonio is incredibly emotional and full of pain and anger in this soliloquy. His powerful and passionate words provide him with a kind of redemption and push him to incite the people of Rome to rebellion. He prophesies "domestic fury and ferocious civil war" in Italy and uses horrific images such as "quartered children" to predict the many future deaths and chaos to come and to shock the public. Antony's complete and absolute loyalty to the "spirit of Caesar, eager for vengeance," reminds us of the continued presence of the great Caesar despite his death, and demonstrates the extreme measures that Antony will take to avenge his friend's betrayal. His words then set the tone for the rest of the show and prepare the audience for the coming turmoil and bloodshed. Antony's soliloquy marks a turning point in the play, which begins with his masterful and manipulative speech to the plebs to avenge his beloved friend and gainpower, and ultimately condemns Rome to endure Caesar's vengeance. 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears'. Mark Antony begins his speech with a plea for attention before a confused and hostile crowd. Commas punctuate his first line as he speaks slowly to give time to the people in retreat to listen to him. This oration will test their loyalty to Rome and to the "Noble Anthony". he immediately neutralizes any opposition in the crowd with the words "I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." However, he soon begins to divert his audience's thoughts from the "evil ambition" that Brutus spoke of, by speaking of Caesar's legacy and hinting at his heroism, kindness, and honor, Being a master of rhetorical and political skill, Antony simultaneously supports Brutus' arguments by pointing out their flaws and suggesting otherwise, and thus is able to appear deferential to the conspirators but yet incite a revolt. against them, just like in the previous scene, where he curses the murderers while appearing to show them respect. Here Antony states many times that "Caesar was ambitious," then counters these arguments using tangible images that appeal to the plebeians and remind them that Caesar brought money to Rome, showed compassion for the poor, and refused the crown three times. This logical proof casts doubt on the validity of Brutus' argument and makes the crowd feel guilty by reminding them that everyone loved Caesar once, although there is "none poor enough to revere him" upon his death. Furthermore, Antony repeatedly calls the conspirators "honorable men", so much so that it seems that their view of Caesar as "ambitious" should therefore be corrected, and so as not to go against the crowd, who are, at this point, still in favor of Brutus. However, the use of this phrase is highly ironic, as she believes that men are traitors. Antony's repetition of the term "honorable men" gives force to his speech and infuses it with an increasingly sarcastic tone that questions their honor simply by drawing so much attention to it: "For Brutus is a man of honor, / So are all, all honorable." men'. The emphasis on this phrase also gives rhythm to the speech which captures the attention of the crowd. Antony continues to flatter the conspirators by saying, "I am no orator, as Brutus is," despite having delivered a speech three times longer than Brutus." This also expresses his supposed low self-confidence, thus evoking pity among the crowd in an attempt to support and praise his great oration Once again demonstrating his ability to manipulate the crowd's thoughts, Antony introduces the idea of ​​"mutiny and rage" as he claims to prevent it, then says that if he were a skilled orator. like Brutus, he would incite the people to revenge and revolt. Antony then proceeds to flatter the Romans, calling them "gentle" when in reality they are crude, appearing to be consulting the crowd and not explicitly imposing any opinions. but rather a statesman. He engages the audience and gives the impression that he is in control. Rhetorical questions, to which he provides answers (such as: "Will you force me to read the will?") ​​takes on meaning. for there is an intimacy between the crowd, the speaker, and the body. Antony uses the will itself as a ploy to tease the crowd as the possibility of money makes people selfish and excited, all the while stating that he cannot read it because it would show how much Caesar loved his citizens and therefore stirred them up. Here, once again, it is employingsubtly the art of rhetoric, since a revolt is exactly what he wants. He plays with their desire and reinforces it by withholding information until exactly the right moment, which consequently makes the crowd even more passionate and dangerous. When Antony finally reads the will, Caesar's generosity in bequeathing his private gardens and orchards and seventy-five drachmas to each citizen highlights the injustice of the assassination and sends the crowd into a frenzy. Often, actions speak louder than words, and Anthony successfully uses theatricality in his oration to create a dramatic effect that will have a lasting impact on the crowd. Initially he makes a powerful entrance by entering the Forum carrying the body of the dead Caesar, which moves the audience, and from this moment on all eyes are turned towards him. It creates a lasting final image when he discovers Caesar's body and reveals his wounds, at which point a plebeian responds with "O pitiful sight." I saw a production of Julius Caesar at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, and the constant presence of the corpse at the forefront of the stage, draped in white fabric with its bloody head exposed, increased and sustained the dramatic tension and suspense throughout. work of Antonio. speech, while the dim blue lighting created a dark atmosphere and cast shadows on the characters, creating an air of mystery. Antony then uses the power of theater to prolong the post-assassination conflict by shocking the audience with an improvised account of the death, claiming to know which conspirator caused each wound. He deliberately uses hyperbole such as "Oh, what a fall that was, my countrymen!" / Then you and I and all of us fell to the ground', to irritate his audience. The hard “k,” “r,” and “t” consonants in words like “rude cut” emphasize the brutality of the murderous assault, while the soft “f” and “l” sounds echo Caesar's fall. Recounting the murder in a production full of tragic pathos, he and all the citizens of Rome are forced to relive the traumatic experience. Anthony's oration is clearly based more on emotion than reason. His passionate mourning and pain, as demonstrated by his genuine tears over the corpse, and his sentimental remembrance of Caesar during his speech win over the feelings of the crowd and contrast with the actions and language of all the other characters. Antony's long speeches are actually motivated by grief for another individual, by horror and indignation, and the audience is mesmerized by such a display of loyalty. Antonio states, “He was my friend,” taking a softer, more thoughtful tone. Concerns like friendship are things that everyone can understand and the crowd can therefore empathize with him. Antony shows how hurt he was by Caesar's death, stating, "My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar." At this point he feels the need for a 'pause' to recover, and it is precisely here that the crowd instinctively began to change sides. Moved by his emotion, the fickle crowd begins to sympathize with Antonio, commenting "Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire from crying." Caught up in their emotions, they accept everything he says. The reason why Antony's speech is so successful is because he uses theatrical effects and colorful language in a way that is powerful and appealing to the audience. He is clearly not the blunt and outspoken man he claims to be, and instead proves himself eloquent and articulate, with a knowledge of crowd management. Antony skillfully uses every piece of information he can to win over the crowd. His speech is well received and public opinion turns against the conspirators. It is by targeting the masses that Antonio manages to create a chaotic situation that suits himallows you to take power in place of the Republicans. He later also tries to dissuade Ottavio from entering Rome, perhaps to avoid sharing power. By means of his ruthless display of grief and persuasive rhetoric, Antony convinced the rebellious crowd to rise up against the conspirators. They are enraged to the point of rebellion and violence, and leave to cremate Caesar's body with due respect, burn the conspirators' homes, and incite general chaos. As a result, Brutus and Cassius flee Rome. Antonio's ruthlessness becomes increasingly apparent as he personifies his malice, saying, "Malice, you're underway: / Take what you want." Happy that the crowd is now acting to his advantage, Antony immediately thinks of how to profit from this chaos and visits Octavius ​​and Lepidus at Caesar's house. Utterly confident in his military strategy, Antony personifies luck, stating: "Fortune is merry, /And in this state of mind she will give us anything." Readily trading the lives of the conspirators for his own political success, the ruthless nature of Antony is revealed. From now on, he uses his current leadership position to defeat his opponents. At the beginning of Act V, as the two opposing sides argue before the battle, Shakespeare shows that language has passed the point. It is ironic, however, that Antony accuses the "Villans" of "kissing Caesar's feet" while their "vile daggers / were tearing each other to pieces in Caesar's sides," when he did so. himself betraying Brutus' trust and friendship as he turned the crowd against him at Caesar's funeral However, no measure of insult or accusation will deter the inevitable violence caused by what has already been said The War of Philippi that what follows reveals a lot about Antonio's character. We mainly see that he is a skilled military leader, as he makes better decisions on the battlefield than any other general and is skilled at identifying the best point of attack; for example, when Brutus leaves Cassius' army exposed, Antony immediately attacks. Even when Antonio takes the 'lower left hand of the even field' he is victorious, while Ottavio is defeated. Allowing Octavius ​​to take the more advantageous right side of the battlefield may suggest Antony's modesty and reason, as it shows that he is loyal to Caesar's great-grandson and heir and recognizes his superiority. On the other hand, Antony and Ottavio argue, as they are both power-hungry. There is some personality clash, although both are able to put their differences on the back burner to their shared aspiration to defeat Brutus and Cassius. To do this, however, they must be appropriate and practical. Antony recklessly changes Caesar's will, which he had previously used to manipulate the Romans, looking for ways to "cut some charges in the bequests." He wants to reduce the amount of money left by Caesar to the poor of Rome, and instead keeps it for the triumvirate and to cut the costs of his army. He is also shown to be cold and insensitive in discussing the deaths of senators with power who might threaten his reign (for example, flatly stating that his nephew, Publius, "will not live", rather than attempting to sustain his life). Antony's actions are full of irony, as he is now assassinating people he believes have power, just as the conspirators did to Caesar. Likewise, he acts behind the back of Lepidus, his ally, criticizing him and using him with resources to carry out their "errands" and to relieve himself of "several defamatory loads". Antony then compares Lepidus to his horse and plans to retire him from power as soon as they have finished using him, despite him being an "experienced and valiant soldier". His plan is thenassume power in Lepidus' place. In this scene Antony appears very authoritarian and, speaking down to Octavius, who defends Lepidus by reminding him that he, Antony, has "seen more days" than him and therefore implying that he is wiser, presents himself as pompous and selfish . important. At this point in the play we see how much Antonio has changed. The generosity of Ottavio that Antonio himself used to demonstrate contrasts sharply with his current personality. The triumvirs, especially Antony, defeat the conspirators, though they do so without regard for cruelty, tyranny, and treachery. After the battle, Antony and Octavius ​​are both competing for dominance. Antony has underestimated Octavius' determination to rule Rome and there is no clear winner, although Antony's prospects remain high. However, we must ask ourselves whether Antony would really be a good ruler. He was given power by the people of Rome, who are clearly in his favor, although after his oration his principles seem to have changed. Although his actions were carried out on behalf of Rome, he tailored them for personal gain. It becomes evident that as a ruler Antony would be ready to forget truth, loyalty and fundamental principles as he has done in the past, thus losing his nobility. However, he is still able to recognize and praise the nobility among others, as in the final scene Antony pays homage to Brutus, calling him "the noblest Roman of all", recognizing that of all the conspirators he was the only one to act with good intentions, rather than "envy of the great Caesar". This public demonstration of praise also has the aim of uniting the people of Rome. The future of Rome now seems to be in Antonio's hands. Brutus killed Caesar to create democracy and prevent an individual state, but the murder appears to have failed to solve their political problems, as Antony's rise to power indicates that he too will be a dictator like Caesar. Antony has little concern for the plebeians who will suffer as a result of the civil war he created. It is ironic that Antony hails Brutus as a "man" rather than a god as Caesar was, but nevertheless he sets out to be a similar type of leader. The future of Rome is the audience's primary concern in this scene, although the fact that the play ends with a sense of uncertainty means that many decisions are left up to the audience. After the assassination we have "a Rome in mourning, a Rome dangerous", and since the political structure as it stands at the end of the novel is largely that at the beginning, the most likely conclusion is that little will change in the future. . This is due to the ruling class' overwhelming desire for power and authority. There is no prospect of hierarchy in the political system created by the triumvirate. These men should unite and work to restore Rome to stability, working for the good of the people, but in reality they are divided by their pride and self-interest, and their constant attempts to undermine each other. These concerns pre-occupied their minds and as a result they neglected the qualities of honor and dignity which should be characteristic of all Romans. The tragedy of Julius Caesar therefore lies not only in the murderous assault on the central character, but also in the crisis of a powerful nation that governs a third of the world. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In "Julius Caesar" Mark Antony proves himself to be a sophisticated and skilled public speaker, a successful military leader, and an astute politician, all the while fulfilling Brutus' assessment of him as a "wise and valiant Roman". Antonio has a romantic side to him, which encourages his emotions to influence both.