The+Historical+Marc+Antony

= The Historical Marc Antony =

Mark Antony was a great Roman leader and put his country as his top priority. He was Caesar’s best friend and also his second cousin once removed. He thought that Cleopatra was partially responsible for Caesar’s death and wanted to meet with her. She ignored his summons twice. The third time she came to him on a boat dressed as the Goddess Venus. Mark Antony was charmed by Cleopatra, and they created a military partnership in 41 B.C. Cleopatra made Antony fall in love with her, just as she had done with Caesar. He followed her to Alexandria and took her as his mistress. In 37 B.C., Antony sailed to meet with Cleopatra in Alexandria, married her and publicly declared her children as his. Their marriage was not only for love. It was also a marriage of politics. Cleopatra was wealthy, and Mark Antony had power to protect her from an invasion by Rome. But by leaving his wife in Rome, he lost his alliance with Octavius. Antony gave pieces of the empire to both Cleopatra and her three children by him, as well as Caesarion, her son by Julius Caesar. Some of this property was not even ruled by the Romans at that time. This was Antony’s way of declaring that he would soon be taking over the entire empire, as well as these other pieces of land. This caused Octavius to feel threatened.  =Speech Analysis of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar Uploaded by dave66 on Aug 12, 2006 Speech Analysis of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar In Antony's funeral oration, he abides by his agreement with Brutus not to place blame on the conspirators. However, he manages to turn the mob against the conspirators. How does he do this? Use examples from the speech to support your answers. Antony uses many rhetorical tricks to persuade the people to go against the conspirators and support him and Caeser's goals. Marc Antony is a respectable man and is himself honorable, but most importantly he has mastered the art of rhetoric. Antony states in his speech that "[Brutus] Hath told you Caesar was ambitious", and then Antony retorts with "I thrice presented him [Caesar] a kingly crown which he did thrice refuse." By doing that, Antony carefully rebuts Brutus' statement that Caesar was ambitious and starts turning the crowd against the conspirators. Throughout his speech Antony continues with his pledge to the conspirators by calling them "honorable men", but the crowd feels a sense of sarcasm each time his calls them that. He then says "You [the crowd] all did love him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?" This rhetorical question goes against Brutus by questioning his speech in which he so greatly demonized and demeaned Caesar. Now the crowd is starting to turn against the conspirators and follow Antony. Antony then teases the crowd with Caesar's will, which the beg him to read, but he refuses. Antony tells the crowd to "have patience" and expresses his feeling that he will "wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar" if he is to read the will. The crowd yells out "they were traitors. 'Honorable men" and have at this time completely turned against the conspirators and are inflamed about Caeser's death. To refute Brutus' claim that Caesar was a heartless tyrant Antony recounts "how dearly he [Caesar] loved him [Brutus]. Next, Antony humbles himself as "no orator, as Brutus is" hinting that Brutus used trickery in his speech to deceive the crowd. After that Antony deals his final blow by revealing to the crowd Caeser's will, in which "To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man seventy-five drachmas" as well as land. He then asks the crowd, "Here was a Caesar, when comes such another?", which questions the conspirators ability to lead. Finally, Antony releases the crowd and utters, "Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou course thou wilt." After this the crowd riots and searches out the traitors in an attempt to kill them. Even though in his speech Antony never directly calls the conspirators traitors, he is able to call them "honorable" in a sarcastic manner that the crowd is able to understand. He starts out by citing that Caeser had refused the crown three times, which refutes the conspirators main cause for killing Caesar. He reminds them of Caesar's kindness and love for all, humanizing Caesar as innocent. Next he teases them with the will until they demand he read it, and he reveals Caesar's 'gift' to the citizens. Finally, Marc Antony, leaves them with the question was there ever a greater one than Caesar?, which infuriates the crowd. Marc Antony is able to eloquently manipulate the crowd through remarkable rhetoric skills and turn them against the 'honorable men.' His speech was truly one of the most renowned and premium example of articulation and delivery. = = = =Sources = =[[ http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t = Extra link to Antony Speech at Funeral: [|Friends, Romans, Countrymen]"Mark Antony." //ThinkQuest//. 2008. ThinkQuest. 20 Apr 2009
 * Octavius declared war on Cleopatra and Antony. When it was clear to Antony that he was losing the war, he sent word to Cleopatra’s ship and they left the battle site and sailed towards the open ocean. Antony’s ships soon followed. Octavius made everyone believe that Cleopatra had left Antony and his ships to die, and that Antony had followed her because he was lovesick. Antony, trying to make up for his humiliation of the loss, went to try to work out an agreement with Octavius. Cleopatra locked herself and her treasures into a temple she had built for her burial tomb to hide from Octavius’ men. Rumors spread that Cleopatra was dead. **
 * When Mark Antony thought that Cleopatra was dead, he committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Once Antony was dead, Cleopatra knew that the Romans would take over Egypt and either have her killed or made into a slave. In order to save herself from the Romans, Cleopatra then killed herself by purposely getting bitten by a cobra, a royal symbol, in the year of 30 B.C. She died at the age of 39, in her tomb with all her treasures. She had ruled Egypt for 22 years, and was considered their greatest queen. She was the last of the Ptolemies to rule. It also meant the end of Greek influence in Egypt. **

"Mark Antony." //library//. 2009. Thinkquest. 28 Apr 2009 .