Rhetorical Devices In Mark Antony's Funeral Speech
Bradley Myron
8/15/15
Summer Assignment
Mark Antony Speech Analysis
In Mark Antony's funeral speech for Caesar, we can find one of Shakespeare’s finest examples of rhetorical work. The speech itself could serve as a thematic synopsis to the play Julius Caesar. Perhaps more than any other of Shakespeare's works, Julius Caesar is a play that relies on rhetoric—both as the art of persuasion and as an artifice used to veil intent.
Already distrusted by the conspirators for his friendship with Caesar, it is obvious that Antony does not have it easy when he begins his speech. Brutus lets him speak at Caesar's funeral, but only after Brutus, an excellent speaker himself, spoke "to show the reason of our Caesar's death." He then allows Antony to say whatever he wishes as long as he speaks no ill of the conspirators. However, Antony has two advantages over Brutus: his skill at speaking and his chance to have the last word. It is safe to say that Antony makes the most of his opportunity.
Antony's performance in front of the crowd should come as no surprise. We can tell from his Act III, sc. I meeting with the conspirators that he means something different in nearly everything he says. We know …show more content…
He progressively hits the notes of ambition and honor in a way that soon calls both terms into question. Antony's prime weapons at the beginning are his conspicuous ambiguity regarding Caesar ("If it were so, it was a grievous fault") and Brutus ("Yet Brutus says he was ambitious"), rhetorical questions ("Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?") and feigned intent ("I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke"). However, what is more chilling is Antony's cynical conclusion to the funeral speech as the mob departs: "Now let it work: mischief, thou art afoot/Take thou what course thou wilt!" As Antony demonstrates, the art of persuasion is not far removed in from the craft of
8/15/15
Summer Assignment
Mark Antony Speech Analysis
In Mark Antony's funeral speech for Caesar, we can find one of Shakespeare’s finest examples of rhetorical work. The speech itself could serve as a thematic synopsis to the play Julius Caesar. Perhaps more than any other of Shakespeare's works, Julius Caesar is a play that relies on rhetoric—both as the art of persuasion and as an artifice used to veil intent.
Already distrusted by the conspirators for his friendship with Caesar, it is obvious that Antony does not have it easy when he begins his speech. Brutus lets him speak at Caesar's funeral, but only after Brutus, an excellent speaker himself, spoke "to show the reason of our Caesar's death." He then allows Antony to say whatever he wishes as long as he speaks no ill of the conspirators. However, Antony has two advantages over Brutus: his skill at speaking and his chance to have the last word. It is safe to say that Antony makes the most of his opportunity.
Antony's performance in front of the crowd should come as no surprise. We can tell from his Act III, sc. I meeting with the conspirators that he means something different in nearly everything he says. We know …show more content…
He progressively hits the notes of ambition and honor in a way that soon calls both terms into question. Antony's prime weapons at the beginning are his conspicuous ambiguity regarding Caesar ("If it were so, it was a grievous fault") and Brutus ("Yet Brutus says he was ambitious"), rhetorical questions ("Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?") and feigned intent ("I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke"). However, what is more chilling is Antony's cynical conclusion to the funeral speech as the mob departs: "Now let it work: mischief, thou art afoot/Take thou what course thou wilt!" As Antony demonstrates, the art of persuasion is not far removed in from the craft of