Julius Caesar Act III Scene II
Brutus' calm reasonableness is in marked contrast with Antony's marked eloquence
later.
Brutus appeals to the reasons of the crowd and Antony will appeal to their passion.
Brutus speaks in prose; he considers the mob to be intellectuals and logical, whereas
Antony takes the opportunity to appeal to their emotions to incite/instigate them.
Brutus does not pay attention to the psychology of the mob; his generous praise of
Caesar, "His glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy" to the mob would be
contradictory to the reasons advanced by Brutus lacks a sound pace.
This part finally demonstrates that Brutus is motivated entirely by the principle of
offering his own life. Should his country need it . The crowd responds enthusiastically.
Republican principles matter very little for them only the person matters. They merely
substituted one hero for another, just as they had substituted Caesar for Pompey.
Brutus had encouraged this unwittingly. The only reason he had given for accepting the
fact that Caesar was ambitious was his own honourable reputation,
"Believe me for mine honour and have respect for mine honour that you may believe".
He was unaware of how impermanent its effect will be when he is gone out of sight.
“let him be Caesar”
This is intended to seem bitterly ironical to the audience. Brutus had slain his friend to
prevent him from becoming Caesar and destroying the republic.
“Good countrymen let me depart alone”
Pay your respects to Caesar's body and give a respectful hearing to Antony's speech.
This is another ironic mistake he should have first dispersed the crowd or stayed on to
refute what Antony says later.
“Friends, Romans, countrymen…”
Man's evil deeds are remembered long after he himself is dead but his good actions
and noble deeds are often forgotten as soon as he is buried.
Antony wins over the confidence of the Roman citizens step-by-step. Initially, he
remains cautious, presenting himself merely as a mourner resigned, a friend of Caesar
simply laying him to rest with the proverb "the evil that men do..." so that it would
arouse sympathy. At first he follows every condition layed down by Brutus repeating
Brutus' charge that Caesar was ambitious . Though the word 'if' brings in an element of
doubt , if it was so it was a grievous fault..." and grievously had Caesar answered it "
points out that Caesar had certainly paid the full penalty . He acknowledged that he
was speaking with Brutus' permission for Brutus was an honourable man, with an
irony on the word "all"(line 95) with regards to the conspirators. He destroys Brutus'
concept of honour and his public standing. He is clever enough to give instances and
not merely facts.
The Roman people form a very important backdrop to all the actions in the play.
"We must believe Brutus even if he is wrong" (implication of Brutus being an
honourable man . Antony uses the same word as Brutus uses, but in an ironic context.
Honour can never be an excuse for murder.
Antony works directly on the mob's emotions. Breaking off which he genuinely feels as
he has done to stir their sympathy
Antony, pretending to be a disturbed man protesting/proclaiming/declaring that he is
not trying to prove Brutus and Cassius wrong but he must say what he knows .
"O masters .... Cassius wrong"
He stirs the crowd's fury while following every instruction related to Brutus/given by
Brutus. He puts the idea of mutiny into their minds, incite them while pretending to
restrain/ control them.
"I will not do them wrong....then I'll wrong such honourable men"
The conspirators, by now, are an isolated lot. Brutus and Cassius are now in one
section, and Antony declares that they shall not suffer any injustice at his hands,
though Caesar had suffered in his.
The pause enables him to observe their reactions, which develop rapidly from the first
citizen's reflective comment that is so ironically revealed after Brutus’ emphasis on
reasons. The mob is simple-minded, and they can only think straight.
“Which pardon me I do not mean to read”
Antony pretending to be frightened by what he has done to know he cannot read it, for
if he told them , they would be enraged.
“napkins…rich legacy”
Antony’s mastercard - Caesar’s will. While he presents it he clearly refuses to read it
while clearly indicating its nature, its worth.
Calpurnia’s prophetic dream, her fear that Caesar would be killed, was already fulfilled
when the conspirators bathe their hands in Caesar’s blood after killing him. Now,
Decius’ deceitful interpretations of Calpurnia’s dream are also shown to have a degree
of truth that Decius himself certainly did not intend.
Brutus had murdered his beloved friend, but his speech failed to prove that he had
sacrificed his personal relationship for the sake of his country.
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