Comment on Antony’s funeral speech in Julius Caesar.

Answer

Comment on Antony’s funeral speech in Julius Caesar.

Mark Antony is Julius Caesar’s only loyal friend in the classic drama of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) “Julius Caesar” (1623).  Antony’s funeral speech in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” is a masterpiece of convincing oratory. It is a powerful moment where he influences the crowd’s emotions to turn them against Brutus and the conspirators. Here are key points about Antony’s speech:

Emotional Appeal: Antony cleverly uses emotional appeal to convince the crowd’s opinion in his favour. He starts by seeming to support Brutus and the conspirators, saying, 

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” 

However, as he continues, he gradually shifts up the crowd’s emotions by mentioning Caesar’s generosity and the will he left behind. Antony repeats,

“Brutus is an honorable man.” 

This is dripping with sarcasm and begins to turn the crowd against Brutus and the conspirators.

Rhetorical Devices: Antony employs various ornamental devices to enhance the impact of his speech. He uses parallelism, such as he repeats the phrase. 

“But Brutus says he was ambitious.”  

He repeats his point multiple times to drive home. He also uses rhetorical questions like 

“Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” 

He wants to engage the audience and make them question the conspirators’ motives. These techniques help to captivate the crowd and lead them to reconsider their initial support for Brutus.

Appeal to Logic: Alongside emotional appeal, Antony also appeals to the crowd’s sense of logic. He presents evidence to refute Brutus’ claim that Caesar was ambitious. He points out instances where Caesar refused the crown and reminded the crowd of Caesar’s acts of kindness towards them. By providing evidence and reasoning, Antony damages the credibility of Brutus’ accusations and casts doubt on the conspirators’ motives.

Motivation to Action: Finally, Antony’s speech incites the crowd to take action against the conspirators. He cleverly manipulates their emotions and reasoning to the point where they are no longer satisfied with mere words. By the end of his speech, the crowd is in a rage. They are crying out for revenge against Brutus and the other conspirators. Antony’s skillful manipulation of the crowd’s emotions and his strategic use of rhetoric ultimately lead to chaos and violence in Rome.

In conclusion, Antony’s funeral speech in “Julius Caesar” is a masterclass in persuasive oratory. Through emotional appeal, rhetorical devices, logical arguments, and provocation to action, Antony effectively turns the crowd against Brutus and the conspirators. It led to a tragic outcome for all involved.