Part I - Brutus' speech

Brutus speaks first. This is a short and engrossing speech. The audience is indeed surprised and angry and demands explanations, but since the people suspected and feared Caesar, Brutus knows that the audience supports his actions and does not feel the need to justify the murder. Instead, he is mainly concerned with protecting his good name from being accused of treason (he was Caesar's adopted son) and defaming those who question the morality of his words and actions.

The speech is successful, and when Antony rises the crowd demands his blood, and Brutus asks to allow Antony to pay his last respects to Caesar. what a mistake

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Cæsar were living, and all slaves died, than that Cæsar were dead, to live all free men?

As Cæsar loved me, I wept for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There are tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; and death for his ambition.

For the complete speech

Mark Antony's speech

Antony's speech is much longer and much more impressive. He knows that he is starting from a very weak point, and at the beginning of his words he makes sure to be modest and hide his intentions - "I did not come to praise Caesar but to bury him" has become a classic quote. Antony reminds the crowd of Caesar's good deeds and achievements.

Gradually, Antony shifts the blame for the betrayal of the Republic and the attempt to take it over from the late Caesar to the group of conspirators who murdered him. He begins by appealing to their reasons for murder, then to their patriotism, and finally to their humanity. In a brilliant rhetorical exercise, he constantly uses the phrase "aren't they men of honor" when gradually the phrase turns from a sincere compliment, to an intriguing question, then to mockery, then to sarcasm, and finally to a curse and accusation.

At the end of the speech, the crowd is already angry and angry and attacks Brutus and his friends who are forced to flee and later in the play are executed. The fate of Antonius, by the way, is not much better and he was killed in a naval battle against whoever would be Augustus-Caesar. At least she stood by him among his partner until the bitter end - Queen Cleopatra.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, The good is often buried with their bones; So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious; If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Cæsar answered it.

William Shakespeare

The British playwright wrote "Julius Caesar" in the seventeenth century, that is, more than fifteen hundred years after the events. However, thanks to a detailed investigation (which may be based on sources that have not reached us) and a deep understanding of the human soul and of politics in the royal court, he gives a historically reliable-looking description with deep layers.

There is an argument that the play about Caesar is Shakespeare's implicit criticism of Queen Elizabeth I. When the play came out, the queen was at the height of her power but already an adult, and the public worried (and rightly so) that she had avoided appointing an agreed heir. In the play, Shakespeare presents the problematic and danger of an irregular change of government, and the fear of civil war. (More on Shakespeare)

Want to learn rhetoric? Sign up now