Question

Compare and contrast the speeches of 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 Roman's 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 Brutu'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.