Julius ceasar mark antony
Julius ceasar -mark antonyAntony has been described as "a self-seeking politician of no scruples." Do you agree? Support your answer with close reference to the text.
Antony appears to be loyal to Caesar, but his loyalty hides his underlying deceitful nature. Antony uses Caesar's death to his advantage. Antony capitalises on the opportunity it presents and progresses to become the victor and ruler of Rome.
There is no doubt that early in the play Antony is portrayed as a very loyal and trustworthy character. Caesar trusts him and holds him as a close friend. As seen when Caesar calls on Antony's opinions about Cassius "tell me truly what thou think'st of him" as at the time Caesar was ruler, and it was very rare that rulers ask people for their opinions unless they were a close friend. Antony's loyalty is shown when Caesar asks him to touch Calphurnia on the holly chase. Antony replies "When Caesar says 'Do this,' it is perform'd" this shows Antony is loyal, and obedient to Caesars will.
After Caesar's death Antony again shows his loyalty, and asks if he is to be killed, he would like to be killed by the side of the noble Caesar. "If I myself, there is no hour so fit As Caesar's death's hour" "No place will please me so, no mean of death, As here by Caesar" this shows that he holds Caesar as a very noble man, and that he loved him.
However, Antony then appears to make friends with the conspirators when he addresses them after Caesars death "Friends I am with you all, and love you all". Here Antony shows true deceit, for Antony is not their friend, but rather their enemy. "Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!" and pronounces that he will create war among the people to revenge Caesars death. "Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all parts of Italy…Caesar's spirit raging for revenge…Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war" Antony is the one who creates the war, this plays to his advantage because he eventually becomes king.
It is necessary to analyse both Brutus's speech and Antony's to see how Antony 's appeals to the crowd cause a civil war. Brutus justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in Antony's speech, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar. The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators.
Brutus seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He begins his speech with "Romans, countrymen...", appealing to them as citizens of Rome, who, he later says, will benefit as freemen with Caesar's death. This shows that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their better judgement as Romans. He declares that he is an honourable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the validity of his...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.