Mark Antony – In a Plebeian’s Eyes
From the Journal of Tib. Liburnius:
a.d.XVII.Kal.Apr. a.u.c. DCCX
A god Caesar was, most noble and valiant. All desires him king. Upon his hands may well be the crown, the day of the undue feat. Betrayal hath fallen upon him by his most beloved friend, Marcus Brutus, along with others. The accursed dagger, impaled within his bosom, Caesar spoke: “Et tu, Brutè? Then fall, Caesar,” his immortal last words. None shall soon forget the Ides of March. ‘Twas that day too, doth the great Mark Antony make known his proper talents of lecture. A true orator is Antony, far grander than Marcus Brutus or the mighty Julius Caesar himself. All appeals of rhetoric – logos, the plea of truth and logic; ethos, the plea of morals and nature; and pathos, the plea of passion – art contained in his disputes, startling each soul by his words. His verses can influence all as thou or I. Mark Antony truly is the superior speaker.
Hath I not witnessed Antony, may never hath I known such effect of proclamation. At times of Caesar’s death, Antony pleaded for his own murder. Brutus hath refused the request. ‘Twas fortunate, as Caesar could never have else been revenged. Appealing to ethos, Antony bade to present Caesar’s body at the funeral and speaketh upon his behalf. He only asked for a blessing to “produce [Caesar’s] body to the marketplace, and in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, speak in the order of his funeral.” Antony previously hath taken hands of each conspirator, attesting his fidelity. All trust him as a friend, apart from the suspicious Caius Cassius. I now know his devious intention was to only momentarily gain their faith. Clever, art thou, cunning Antony. Brutus and Cassius debated, and arranged that Antony may speak, promising several standards. Antony shall not blame the conspirators, nor shall he speak any but good of Caesar. No more was desired by Antony.
The marketplace doth not lack partakers. The funeral must have been attended by all of Rome, upset and demanding enlightenment. There, Brutus spoke of great Caesar as ambitious and of great treachery, promising enfranchisement for the death of Caesar. As one, all is calmed and wanted Brutus as the successor of Caesar. O, fellow plebeians! Wherefore art ye blinded so? ‘Twas Antony who emits light on the shadows of the conspirators; that Caesar hath not been ambitious, and hath done things that may have been prevented by his “desire”. Freedom could not be promised as freedom already exists, nor can he be treacherous if he was a hero, and a villain not. His words, as Caesar’s worthy deeds, cannot be forgotten: “[Caesar] hath brought many captives home to Rome whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.” That was one. A second was, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.” At last, Antony said, “I [Antony] thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse.” ‘Twas three more appeals to ethos, aiming the ambition of Caesar, in whom it hath existed not. One who is ambitious will have taken the crown, prove emotionless towards the poor, and overlook the prisoners. Attention was captured from the entire marketplace.
Tears have been shed upon the pulpit. Antony hath wept in the presence of Caesar’s corpse. All is moved by his mournful line, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar.” His sorrow for Caesar apparent, Antony takes a moment to salvage him before resuming his speech. His tears were more visible than Caesar’s ambition; his heart more visible than the tears. An appeal to pathos hath been used here, showing public emotion where emotion destines to be shown, whether honest or fraudulent. Though his weeping spoke, as part of him hath passed and trailed Caesar beyond; fraudulence hath not been probable. The Romans begin to realize Caesar hath been dearly wronged.
Caesar hath been worthy of reigning Olympus. His spirit will rule next to Mars, or even the almighty Jupiter. His honor was to be celebrated before his fall. But now not a man cared for him. Antony hath been aware of such humility, and claimed “But yesterday, the word of Caesar might have stood against the world. Now lies he there, and none so poor to do him reverence.” Truly, Caesar was well respected. Greater than law hath been his voice. Though Caesar hath refused to rule, all still followed him as a king. Also true, Caesar hath near been forgotten for the simple reason that Brutus convinced Rome Caesar will be a scoundrel. Antony hath appealed to logos – as these words were true as day or night – to bring Caesar back to the memories of others. Though the plebeians art focused on the mentioned will of Caesar, it is clear their sentiments gradually change of Caesar.
Yet again, dost Antony appeal to logos; his actions encouraging his words. As Antony lifts Caesar’s mantle, he speaketh, “Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.” O, such a brutal sight! Signs of vicious betrayal art seen in the multiple wounds still seemed pouring of blood, each a figure of a traitor. Antony reveals the assailant of each gash, first Cassius’. Next, Casca’s “envious” slash. Finally, a cut most unkind, not of size or of feature, but of whom who hath made it: Brutus. At this, misery and betrayal filled Caesar, “for when the noble Caesar saw him stab, ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms, quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart.” At once, all was enraged. Pity was felt for Caesar. At last, doth all see the errors in the slaying. Least, a far more merciful execution may have been fitting for such undone corruptions.
At last noble Antony reveals Caesar’s will to the rest of Rome. Caesar’s royalty hath been shown, as “to every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas.” Countless Romans, each receiving a portion of Caesar’s wealth. He hath the choice to make his wife, Calphurnia, his heir. Instead, his prosperity was split amongst all of Rome. Only out of love, may Caesar give up such wealth with others more deserving. Furthermore, “he hath left you [Romans] all his walks, his private arbors, and new-planted orchards, on this side Tiber.” Never may there be another, whom so generous as to split his wealth among his countrymen, and to leave such private regions public. Never may you henceforth be forgotten. Antony hath appealed to pathos; to Caesar’s love for Rome.
No greater orator is there but Antony, all of rhetoric included in every speech. Multiple times are logos and pathos used in just his funeral address, ethos once. His bidding to speak at Caesar’s funeral, too, appealed to ethos. Alone, Caesar may have been forgotten. ‘Twas Antony who returned him to existence. Caesar is dead now. Be it so. But generations forth will Caesar be esteemed. May never he be forgiven, who hath cheated Caesar and all of Rome. But that dreaded day… I have slumbered not since. Farewell, my lord. Ut sit semper vobiscum…
