Antony's Devotion To Caesar example essay topic

Mark Antony The character of Mark Antony from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar may be viewed as simply the confident and devoted supporter of Julius Caesar. On the contrary, Antony presents the qualities of a shrewd flatterer, a ruthless tyrant, as well as a loyal follower. Antony's characteristics will change as the play progresses. He will begin using flattery to get what he wants, but he will eventually depend on his powerful relentlessness. Furthermore, Antony uses these various attributes to make him successful. Throughout the play, Antony uses flattering to achieve his goals.

Following the assassination of Caesar, Antony quickly grasps that he must deal with Brutus, and he has the shrewdness to take advantage of Brutus's gullibility. Antony has his servant say, Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest ( i 126). From this point, it is clear that Antony intends to flatter Brutus and to work upon those personal qualities of Brutus which represent his fundamental weaknesses. Antony then comes to the Capitol where he further flatters the conspirators by shaking their hands and saying, Friends am I with you all, and love you all... ( i 220). This act symbolizes that Antony has made a new friendship with the conspirators, but in reality, he is plotting to seek revenge so he can take over Rome. Antony is also able to flatter the vast angry crowd in order to get his way.

He is first able to get the crowd to feel sorry for him. This feeling is evident when the second plebeian says, Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping ( ii 116). Antony is then able to turn the people in the crowd against Brutus by teasing them with Caesar's will. Antony says, And being men, hearing the will of Caesar, it will inflame you, it will make you mad (II ii 144-145). This blandishment provokes an immediate response of the crowd demanding that Antony read Caesar's will. Although Antony uses flattery to get what he wants, he will also show respect for others with his devotion and loyalty.

One of the most significant characteristics of Mark Antony is his strong, affectionate loyalty to Julius Caesar. Antony's devotion to Caesar extends beyond a simple friendship, but politically as well. This fact is best recognized when he offers Caesar the crown of Rome three times in the beginning of the play. This act shows that Antony is dedicated to Caesar because he is quite willing to serve under the rule of an ambitious tyrant.

Immediately following the assassination of Caesar, Antony acts as though he is a friend of the conspirators. On the contrary, he is secretly plotting to get his revenge on all of the assassins. Antony later reveals his true feelings in a wholehearted soliloquy before the bloody cadaver of Caesar, Thou art the ruins of the noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times ( i 256-257). Antony believes that Caesar was the most imposing man ever to live throughout the course of history. To prove his loyalty, Antony gives a confident and persuasive speech at Caesar's funeral despite an extreme danger on his own life. First, Antony expresses his sadness and grief over the death of his distinguished friend.

However, as the speech progresses, Antony's emotions transform into extreme anger towards the conspirators when he says to the crowd, Look you here, here is himself / Marred as you see with traitors ( ii 197-198). The people in the crowd were so moved by his speech that they were willing to go to war against the conspirators. By starting this civil war, Antony again risks his own life to get revenge on the assassins of Caesar. Antony realizes that loyalty is an advantageous quality for a person to possess.

He emphasizes this speculation when he does not kill Lucilius, the officer to Brutus who stoically risked his own life to save his master. Antony says of Lucilius, This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you, a prize no less in worth (V 26-27). Realizing the value of having loyal followers, Antony orders that Lucilius be protected. Eventually, Antony's loyalty will change into an envy of Caesar's ambition and he will follow the path of the ruthless tyrant.

As the play progresses, Antony develops a ruthless state of mind. He forms into a relentless tyrant much like Caesar was before his death. Cassius probably describes him best as a shrewd contriver. Antony first shows his fierceness in his speech at Caesar's funeral. He speaks of the conspirators sarcastically calling them honorable men. He enrages the people of the crowd by convincing them that Caesar's assassination was morally wrong and the conspirators are traitors.

By his powerful speech, Antony has created civil war in Rome and he has no concern for the welfare of the citizens who will suffer in the strife. Antony again shows his ruthlessness when he condemns his own nephew to death by saying, He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him (IV i 6). The way in which Antony says these words show his unrelenting mind. Antony is willing to ignore all ethical and moral considerations in order to concentrate on political practicality and expedience. Also, the way Antony regards Lepidus as a slight man without merit further shows his relentlessness. Antony uses Lepidus essentially to run errands and he intends to eventually append Lepidus powers to his own.

At Phillip i, Antony shows his ruthless nature when he immediately attacks after Brutus left Cassius's army exposed. As a consequence, it is because of Antony's ruthless state of mind that he is successful. In conclusion, Mark Antony is more than a simple follower of Julius Caesar. Antony is a shrewd flatterer, a ruthless tyrant, as well as a loyal supporter of Caesar.

He is able to manipulate Brutus using flattery. Furthermore, he is able to get what he wants with his ruthless state of mind. In summary, Antony is able to use his various qualities to make him successful.