Act+III,+Scene+ii

**D: Act III, Scene ii ** "This was the most unkindest cut of all" - Antony (ll. 185) ** __Summary__ **

**During his speech, Brutus justified the killing of Caesar by saying that he wanted what was best for Rome. He explained that Caesar would have been a great leader, but he was afraid that Caesar would have become greedy with power and abuse it, becoming a dictator, which in turn would cause Rome and its people much distress. The crowd believed that Brutus was right, even going so far as to call Caesar a tyrant. When Brutus finished with his speech, Antony took over, marking one of the most pivotal points in the story. He repeated many times how “honorable” Brutus and the conspirators were, which made it seem like praise. However, he was really using this 'praise' as a cover as he later went on to say how Brutus brutally murdered Caesar, his best friend. He explained how Caesar had brought many captives to Rome and “cried when the poor cried.” He asked how Caesar could be ambitious if he denied the crown three times and only fought and looked out for the good or Rome? To finish it off, Antony took out a will, and said that Caesar was planning to give his people gardens, recreation areas, and seventy-five drachmas (the equivalent of 200 dollars in our society). Maybe it was just an act, or maybe Caesar was really a humble person. Nonetheless, with his pivotal speech, Antony won over the people of Rome, of course, with the help of the 'mob mentality'. The crowd’s emotions were easily swayed, and Antony used their guilt as a weapon for revenge against the conspirators.**

(note: To allow you to better understand these speeches, there is provided for you a line-by-line translation. Under each line, in Italics, a modern translation is provided. Enjoy ^_^) **Brutus. (Act III, scene ii, ll. 19-24¹) **  **"...If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend** //If anyone here was Caesar's friend,// //Remember I loved Caesar// //Just as much as you. If then you wonder why// //I killed him, here is why. It's not because I hated Ceasar, but that// //Rome would have fallen otherwise.// //Would you rather Ceasar alive, and live as slaves under his tyranny, or// //Caesar dead, and all of you live free. // **Brutus is making himself look good by talking about his love for Rome and the citizens, how he wants the best for the citizens, the best for Rome. But does he really know what //is// best for Rome? Did he have proof that Caesar would be a corrupt ruler and make all the citizens slaves? No. Brutus just had a hunch, and he acted on it, despite not having evidence. Even so, his words easily manipulate the crowd, due to their high frenzy into thinking that his reasoning is logical. Ambition is something that stirs fear in Brutus. It could be a good thing because if a leader has ambition, it might cause him to strive to act on new ideas and better improvements for his country.**
 * of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar**
 * was no less than his. If then that friend demand why**
 * Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that**
 * I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had**
 * you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than**
 * that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?...**
 * Also, note the phrase on lines 22-23, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." This phrase is basically a summary of Brutus' entire speech, referring to how, although it was hard for him, he had to kill Caesar to liberate Rome from a potential kingship, even though Brutus was a good friend to him as well he still put Rome first thinking that he would save others by eliminating Caesar.**

**Antony. (Act III, Scene ii, ll. 75-108)** But Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;... I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?... You all did love hm once, not without cause; What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?" **  **Antony is trying to prove his point without actually saying what he means and letting others decide for themsleves. Brutus has been too trusting to allow Antony to speak at the funeral without even being there to supervise. Now, Antony has free reign, and it is the perfect opportunity to sway the crowd, with the subtle use of persuasion and his delicate language. He does so easily by pointing out that Caesar has done many great things for Rome, also bringing up the fact that the citizens loved him very much at one point. What changed that? Brutus made them forget why they loved him in the first place. Now they remember and feel guilty for not mourning him and for even thinking that it was a good thing that Caesar was killed. **
 * "He was my friend, faithful and just to me;


 * This is a version of the 1979 Television Version of Julius Caesar. It displays Antony giving his one of many brilliant speech's to the crowd at Julius Caesar's funeral:** [|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9BLib8448**]**.**

  

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(141,7,7);"><span style="color: rgb(141,7,7); font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> [For the purpose of better understanding of the text and for review]


 * Did Caesars ambition kill him?
 * Why does Antony want to turn the people against Brutus
 * Did Brutus really want the best for Rome? Was his decision a good thing or a bad thing?
 * Why does the crowd believe Brutus then later turn against Brutus and believe in Antony?
 * What was the purpose of Antony repeating the phrase "honorable men" to describe Brutus and the Conspirators? Did this have a large or small affect on the crowd? Was their a reason behind the constant use of the phrase?
 * What was Antony's motive to create a powerful speech such as this to win the crowd and turn them against the Conspirators?
 * Antony is seen as not very bright to the people of Rome. But based on his actions and how he was easily able to sway the emotions of the crowd, is there more to Antony than we suspect? Is he actually a mastermind and holds back in order to accomplish plans such as this?
 * If Antony truly has more to him than seems, why has he held it back until now? Why did he not show his intelligence to others instead of being thought as a lower class person in the council of politics because he is seen as an all brawn no brain man?

**REFERENCE + FOOTNOTES:** ¹Line numbers are from the Edition from the Folger Shakespeare Library

Shakespeare, William. //Julius Caesar//. New York: Signet Classics, 1998.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);">__Sources__ **