Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Questions and Answers, Effect of Speech of Antony :-
Summarise Antony’s funeral speech.
What was its effects on the Roman mob?
After Brutus, Antony comes to the platform to say a few
words to the Roman mob. Antony finds that Romans are completely on the side of
Brutus. They now call Caesar a tyrant. But Antony goes on very cautiously. He
goes step by step ultimately Antony wins the hearts of the common people.
Antony strikes the very keynote of his speech in the first
line-“Friends, Roman countrymen, let me your ears…”. He addresses the Romans as
friends. He calls Brutus noble. He does not say a single word against Brutus.
He says that he has come to burry Caesar not to praise him. Then he goes on to
refuse the charge of ambition against Caesar. He points out that Caesar has
brought many captives home. Next he cites Caesar’s refusal of the crown offered
by him thrice at feast of hupercalia. Caesar also felt for the poor in their
sufferings. Antony cannot understand how this can be ambition. Antonym now
stops for a while to see the effect of his address on the people. Antony then
changes his attitude. He says that Caesar has left a “Will” for the people. The
people now want to know the contents of the will. Antony goes a step further.
Before reading the will he comes down from the pulpit. He shows to the people
each of the words inflicted by the conspirators. The people now forget all
about the will. They become violent. They cry out for the blood of the
conspirators. But Antony has not yet done with them, he must be sure of them
before he will let them off. Now he reads the will to them. Hearing the will
the people have now become mad. They run out to fire the traitors’ houses.
The effect of Antony’s speech on the Roman mob is wonderful.
His speech makes a lasting impression on the mind of the common people. He wins
the hearts of the common people. Antony is a good orator. He knows how to win
the mob. He appeals to feelings and sentiments of the people. He does not
appeal to the reason of the people. He appeals to their hearts and not their
heads. So he easily wins the hearts of the Roman mob.
For explanations
visit http://www.shmoop.com/julius-caesar/summary.html
