Comparison of the speeches of Brutus and Antony, after the death of Caesar.

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Rochel Beenstock

Comparison of the speeches of Brutus and Antony, after the death of Caesar.

In Scene 3 Antony and Brutus both make speeches to eulogize Caesar because each of them wants to sway the people on to their side. But their speeches differ. They are completely different characters. Brutus starts off his speech “Romans, countrymen and lovers…” he is trying to appeal to the public as citizens of Rome, and to remind them how proud they should be as Roman citizens.

  The fact that Brutus spoke first was a very big mistake on his part because if he said anything wrong then he would be in serious trouble. Brutus was one of the conspirators who assassinated Caesar and so he has to try and justify his action to the people. Brutus is respected and loved by the people and is very well known, therefore the crowd listened to him and readily agreed with him, when he tells the people “Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.” He also says “Because Caesar was ambitions, I slew him…” Brutus justifies his reason for killing Caesar; he killed Caesar for his great love for Rome. He talks very cunningly and enthusiastically. After the speech the crowd was satisfied with his explanation, as Brutus says: “If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.” The plebeians answer “None, Brutus, none.”- They all agree with him, none of them are offended.

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Brutus stresses that he loved Caesar and acted for the good of Rome and asks rhetorically if the people would prefer to live as slaves under Caesar’s rule or to live as freemen with Caesar dead. He knew how to appeal effectively to the crowd saying what they wanted to hear and promises that killing Caesar will bring freedom and prosperity to the citizens of Rome. To anyone of the Romans offended by his speech, he wonders if they would reject what Brutus next says: “Who is here so base, that would be a bondman?” He stresses the point by ...

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