Antony's Understanding Of Human Nature example essay topic

Power play reveals much about human nature. Discuss with reference to Julius Caesar and three pieces of supplementary material. It is has been the nature of human's since evolution to achieve the most that you can in all aspects of life. The game of power play reveals these human instincts by expressing the ways that power is obtained. Those that realise that power is determined by support bases in the public are able to dram on human nature by instinctively satisfying the needs of the public. William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, is an example of how having the majority of support, which comes from the plebeians, is vital when obtaining power.

Language is a weapon the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating used in his Eulogy to the Unknown Soldier to target Australia as an audience, as he was able to deliver a powerful speech by understanding human nature and satisfying the crowd. Similarly, Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is another example of the impact that realising human nature can have on power play. The Contemporary adaptation of the Shakespearean play, Richard, shows how human nature combined with manipulation can bring about power. The behaviour of the plebeians is the definition of human nature and in the instance of the play Julius Caesar, they are the ones who determine who is powerful.

It is instinct for a support base such as the Roman public to favour what ius more beneficial to them, therefore it is human nature that who ever satisfies the crowd more sufficiently will obtain power. Julius Caesar was able to realise this and his power was achieved because of the loyal and faithful support from Rome's biggest power base. This is shown when the Cobbler, or Plebeian if you will says "But indeed, sir, we make holiday to Caesar, and to rejoice in his triumph" This shows that the natural progression of pleasing the public will inevitably lead to the loyal support of those who empower the individual, the public. Caesar's understanding of the ideology involved in human nature is exploited even after his death. The will of Caesar had an impact on maintaining the support of the public.

This is present in their reaction to what was left for them, "every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man, seventy-five drachmas". Naturally the reaction of the Roman citizen's was "Most noble Caesar! We " ll revenge his death". The fact that Caesar was able successfully partake in the game of power play after his death highlights how those who understand human nature will be granted power. To further this, the character of Antony shows how power play reveals much about human nature by bring the will to the funeral.

Combining his skill of rhetoric and his understanding of human nature, Antony is able to draw on the emotions of the crowd and manipulate them. When "Antony comes down from the pulpit" the approach that he takes towards power play is revealed, as this gesture combines with inclusive language such as "Friend, Romans, countrymen... ". to gain favour of the public as they are treated as equal. The breaking down of class barriers between Antony and the plebeians is something that Brutus failed to achieve when trying to gain the support of the public. This is perhaps because of his inability to understand human nature. The loyalties of the public were given to Antony which resulted in Antony becoming more powerful.

Antony's understanding of human nature was again revealed when he drew on the emotions of the audience, "O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel The dint of pity. These are gracious drops. Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold Our Caesar's vesture wounded?" This phrase is rich with emotion and contains inclusive language such as "our Caesar". Antony was so successful in appealing to the nature of humans that he obviously understood because of the reactions of the plebeians that followed, "All Revenged.

About! Seek! Burn! Fire!

Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live". As the game of power play unfolds it is reveals that because Antony predetermined the instinctive reactions of the public that caused Antony to be a more prosperous competitor in the game of power play. Another example of realising human nature and appealing to it in order to obtain power is the Eulogy to the Unknown Soldier, delivered by the Prime Minister of the time Paul Keating. The eulogy was and attempt to give comfort to those who had lost close ones in war.

In a very similar fashion to Antony, Keating was able to manipulate his audience by giving them power. The impact of this power is demonstrated through short sentences as it has a great impact on the audiences emotion "He is one of them. And he is one of us". This is an example of how Keating made his speech very inclusive as well as contrasting the past with the present as a way of reaching the crowd. This inclusiveness gave the audience power which is appealing to the nature of humans.

As a result this will in return strengthen the power of Keating, as his rise in popularity will dictate his success in the game of power play. Just like Antony, Keating shows how power play can reveal much about human nature. Those that were able to realise the nature of humans were capable of manipulating the public who are the most influential support base in regards to determining whom has power. To emphasis the connection between Keating and Antony, the destruction of any social barriers is another example of how the public were manipulated to feel powerful. Where Antony used gestures, Keating simply used the technique of inclusive repetition of the phrase "We do not know... ".

This shows how Keating, although in a powerful position, did not make himself appear superior. This is a successful stratagem when appealing to the nature of humans, unlike the techniques of Brutus, who spoke to the audience in a fashion, which followed the social classes of a typical political hierarchy. This was demonstrated when Brutus continually referred to himself in the arrogant nature of third person, .".. to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar... ". The repeated referral to himself as "Brutus" did not successfully manipulate the audience and make them feel powerful, unlike Antony and Keating who appealed to the nature of humans and as a result became powerful.

The structure of Keating's speech contributes to its effectiveness in the game of power play. The concluding stages of the speech follow the simple formate of showing insight to the past "His tomb is a reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained". And the future "he might enshrine a nations love of peace and remind us that... ". These contrasts are an exploitation of the natural progression of life, thus the basis of its appealing characteristics praised by his audience. The patriotic emotion from the last quote is another example of how manipulating the audience in regards to their human nature will result in a powerful out come.

Another who successfully played the games of power was Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address. Similar to Antony, Caesar and Keating, Lincoln was able to understand human nature and appeal to its emotions. Power play in the instance of Lincoln revealed much about human nature as his success lay in what was going to satisfy the audience and make them feel powerful. Lincoln was able to do this by captivating a religious over tone in a tricolin that showed human nature and how it is revealed in power play. "we cannot dedicate - we cannot consecrate - we cannot hollow - this ground" The tricolin emphasises unity which would have satisfied the human nature of the audience as it was a juxtaposition in the time of war. The ultimate hope for peace is apart of human nature and Lincoln manipulated the crowd by saying such things like "That this nation shall under God, have a new birth of freedom"; A combination of the religious significant's and the image of hope has enabled Lincoln to gain his power as a result of satisfying the strongest power base, the public. The inclusiveness of Lincoln's speech, similar to Antony and Keating, is another contributing factor to the manner in which power play can reveal much about human nature.

All human nature revolves around being satisfied and those who can realise this become the most effective in obtaining power. Lincoln was about to appeal to the public by giving them a cause and something to aspire to. The line that sealed this in his speech was when he eliminated all boundaries in regards to who the speech was directed at. "that this nation shall under God, have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth". The repetition of the word "people" is what makes Lincoln's speech an obvious example of how drawing on the nature of humans, which, is to be satisfied in all wakes of life, can lead to the empowerment of the individual who best draws on such emotions.

It is also with in the boundaries of human nature for an individual to illuminate those that pose a threat of any kind. In the instance of Cassius, in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the manner that is natural for a person to react to those who were more powerful than them is explored. Cassius's edge for power was marked by his manipulation and persuasiveness when attempting to alter the views of others. Shakespeare reveals that it is human nature to be satisfied in life and Cassius is an example of how extreme such nature can become. Cassius' efforts to manipulate Brutus are seen when he sends the letter to Brutus with the motive of winning his favour. "See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already, and the man entire Upon the next encounter yields him ours".

Another instance of Cassius striving towards what he desires is the reaction he has after Caesar is dead and his almost ulterior motives were revealed. "Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over, In sates unborn, and accents yet unknown!" The repeated instances of Cassius acting in such a self-centred way can only be justified that it is human nature for him to be driven by the will to succeed and obtain power. This is perhaps why Cassius was unsuccessful in his ambition to gain power because he did not look for the support of the public who determines who is powerful..