Brutus uses equilibrium to build up a crescendo, “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.”(III, II, 25). This is the climax of Brutus’s speech, which only takes him sixteen lines to reach. He uses the word ‘slew’ as a shock, and to show that Caesar’s ambition was terrible, so it deserved a terrible fate. Brutus uses several rhetorical questions, such as line 34, where he uses the power of Rome again, “Who is here so vile that will not love his country?” (III, II, 33). After each question, Brutus follows up with, “if any speak; for him have I offended.”(III, II 31, 33, 35) This almost becomes a mantra.
Brutus foolishly allows Antony to speak; this shows that Brutus’s naivety, because he believes that Antony will not harm his speech.
Antony’s is a devious man. His speech shows great rhetorical devices. He speaks in verse, treating them as equals. He repeats again and again, showing his understanding of the irrational, stupid mob. He is realistic, and makes absolutely sure they are unanimous before suggesting anything bad.
Antony says that he has come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. Which is a lie, but it gains the crowds interest. He repeats again and again that Brutus and the conspirators are honourable men, (which makes clumsy sentences, unlike Brutus’s beautifully patterned speech.) “Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honourable man.” (III, II, 95). Each time Antony declares how ‘honourable’ a man Brutus is, the phrase gets an increasingly sarcastic tone, until, by the end of the speech, its meaning has been completely inverted. The speech draws much of its power from repetition. Each time Antony reminds them of Brutus’ claim that Caesar was ‘ambitious’; the claim loses force and credibility.
He challenges Brutus’s idea of ambition by reminding the crowd of the wealth that Caesar brought to Rome, Caesar's sympathy for the poor, and his refusal to take the throne when offered it, details seeming to disprove any charges of ambition. “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?”(III, II, 98) Which is an excellent example, because the crowd were there, and saw it with their own eyes. Pausing to weep openly before the mob, he makes them feel pity for him and for his case. It also allows them to talk between themselves. “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.”(III, II, 108).
Antony's refined oratorical skill enables him to manipulate the crowd into begging him to read Caesar's will. “You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will.” (III, II, 150). By means of praeteritio, a rhetorical device implemented by a speaker to mention a certain thing while claiming not to mention it, Antony alerts the mob to the fact that Caesar cared greatly for them. "It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you … 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs." (III, II, 138, 142). Under the pretence of sympathetically wanting to keep the mob from becoming outraged, Antony hints to them that they should become outraged. “It will make you mad.” (III, II, 146). This is another devious trick, which gains their favour.
Antony descends from the pulpit, which is a more effective way of becoming one with the people than Brutus's strategy of speaking in prose. In placing himself physically among the crowd, Antony joins the commoners without sacrificing his rhetorical influence over them. First he speaks of Caesar's wounds and his horrible death; he shows the body, evoking fully the pity and anger of the crowd. “O piteous spectacle!” (III, II, 199). He claims, with false modesty, that he is not a great orator, like Brutus, and that he doesn't intend to incite revolt, which puts the idea into their head. “We’ll mutiny” (III, II, 231). Yet in this very sentence he effects the exact opposite of what his words say, he proves himself a deft orator indeed, and although he speaks against mutiny, he knows that at this point the mere mention of the word will spur action.
Having prepared the kindling with his speech, Antony lights the fire of the people's fury with his presentation of Caesar's will. “Here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar...’tis his will.” (III, II, 130). Caesar had intended to share his wealth with the people of Rome and had planned to surrender his parks for their benefit and money, “To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.” (III, II, 243). Antony predicts and utilizes the people's sense of injustice at being stripped of so generous a ruler. The people completely forget their former sympathy for Brutus and rise up against the conspirators, leaving Antony to marvel at the force of what he has done. Brutus and the conspirators are no longer noble, “They were traitors.”(III, II, 155). Antony has become noble, “most noble Antony” (III, II, 167). Caesar has regained the respect he lost through Brutus, “Oh noble Caesar.” (III, II, 200).
Antony proves strong in all of the ways that proves weak. His impulsive, improvisatory nature serves him perfectly, first to persuade the conspirators that he is on their side, gaining their trust, and then to persuade the mob of the conspirators' injustice, gaining the masses' political support. Not too scrupulous to stoop to deceit and duplicity, as Brutus claims to be, Antony proves himself a great politician, using gestures and skilled rhetoric to his advantage. He responds to subtle cues among both his nemeses and his allies to know exactly how he must conduct himself at each particular moment in order to gain the most advantage.
A good speech must not be too short and full of rhetoric devices. The speaker must be passionate, and fill the audience with emotion. This is what Antony does. Brutus’ speech is too short and is left for the audience to decide. They must be told, for the more people there are, the more stupid they become.