Question

Compare and Contrast the speeches and Brutus and Mark Antony

Answer 1

In William Shakespeare's play. 'the Tragedy of Julius Caesar' two speeches are given to the people of Rome about Caesar's death. In Act 33, scene 22 of this play Brutus and Antony both try to sway the minds of the Romans towards their views. Brutus tried to make the mob believe he killed Caesar for a noble cause. Antony tried to persuade the crowd that the conspirators committed an act of brutality towards Caesar and were traitors. The effectiveness and ineffectiveness of both Antony's and Brutus's speech to the people are conveyed through tone and rhetorical devices. Both of them eulogize Julius Caesar each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a somewhat arrogant, to the point, attempts to sway the people. Antony approaches the conspirators says he understands and forgives them, and asks to give Caesar's eulogy. Brutus agrees, against the wishes of the more realistic Cassius. When left above with Caesar's body, Antony vows to seek revenge against the conspirators.
After Brutus's speech, Antony halts the crowd's support for the conspirators with a masterful speech that plays on the crowd's emotions. The mob drives the conspirators away.
The two famous speeches of Brutus and Antony over Caesar's body are great examples of political rhetoric. Each man tries to sway the crowds to his own position with use of both reason and emotion. Brutus uses the buzz words of honour, ambitious, bondman, vile, etc. Antony speaks of 'noble Brutus' as an 'honourable man'. Although Antony uses his words to fan the emotions of the crowd, he says of Caesar that "He was my friend, faithful and just to me" and he says that in killing Caesar "men have lost their reason."
To sum it up, Brutus speaks only the truth and facts expressing his true patriotic feelings. He appeals to the heads of the mob, where as Antony moves the hearts of the people. By doing so, Antony succeeds in winning over the mob, turning them to his side. In comparison, Antony's speech is far better than Brutus's in the sense that the former could serve its purpose, well and the latter counteracted its designed purpose.