8. "Romans, countrymen and lovers" (Act III Scene2, line13)
a. This is a speech based on reason (unlike Antonys later, which is based on passion). Why does Brutus say the crowd should believe him?
He said his reasons were because he loved Rome more than Caesar. And that if Caesar stayed king than they would die all slaves. He says that Caesar was too ambitious for the crown.
b. How many words can you find that are antithetical (that is, in strong contrast), such as less/ more, living/ dead? What is the cumulative effect?
slaves/freemen
This has the effect of giving the people two options and they would have to be dumb to choose slavery so it was easy for him to lure the audience into his view of things by giving the options of love, joy and life or slavery and death.
c. Many words and phrases are balanced: for example, "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him ; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him." Find more, and say why they are calculated to win over the crowd.
There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition.
Brutus praises Caesar to be on in parallel and sympathetique with the audience but then says that Caesar was bad because of his ambition. It kind of shows that Brutus "had the right intentions" by killing Caesar for the whole of the nation.
9. "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears" (Act III Scene 2, line 71)
a. Antony uses the word "honourable" to describe Brutus and Cassius eight times. Each time the way in which it is spoken is different, and with a different purpose. Carefully trace the transition from the first "For Brutus was an honourable man" to "They that have done this deed are honourable", explaining how Antony's oratory has led the crowd from one point of view to another.
So are they all, all honourable men--
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
Antony describes Caesar as being kind to the poor and weeping with the sorrowful, and then follows it by saying Caesar was too ambitious as Brutus says. By saying that Brutus is an honorable man it makes the audience question whether Brutus really is or isn't honorable because what Antony has to say contrasts that of Brutus.
b. In his second sentence, Antony says he is content to let Caesar's good points be buried with his bones. How many good points does he in fact make before this 35-line speech is ended?
He has made four good points that speak of his actions but not specific ones. He says Caesar is faithful to Antony, that he brought captives to Rome, Caesar wept with the poor, and he refuses the crown. These are some good points that seem a little indirect.
c. How does Antony deploy the words "ambition"and "ambitious" to win over the commoners to hid point of view?
He uses these words after saying something selfless Caesar did or something that was far from ambitious. And then saying that Caesar was ambition which makes the commoners and audience confused and think over what Brutus was saying about Caesar being ambitious and wondering if they really had a reason to kill him.