Antony's Speech Rhetorical Devices

Another useful device throughout Antony’s speech is irony. Irony is a technique that allows words to express the opposite of their normal definition. Antony used this device because it shifted the public’s perspective. For instance, Antony used irony when he stated: I come to bury Caesar not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bone; So let it be with Caesar.
This passage is particularly ironic, because Antony’s main motive for giving this speech was to convince the citizens of Rome that Caesar was ambitious and honorable, which would be considered honoring Caesar. However, since Antony stated this passage with irony, it had the opposite effect and meaning, which allowed for