Brutus and Antony (“The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”)

The play “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, is about the assassination of Julius Caesar by the roman senate and Marcus Junius Brutus as the perpetrator of killing caesar to stay caesar ambition of continued rule of the roman empire.

Brutus(the assassin) had given a speech to the plebeians(public people) on why he killed caesar for certain reasons. In his funeral speech he made a statement that he wanted to be heard immediately “Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honour.” Brutus wants their attention ambitiously but honored of the crowds patients. “That you may be better judged. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s to him I say, that Brutus’s love to Caesar.” Although Brutus had killed Caesar he had honored him even in death and is sorry but not sorry for killing his dear friend, he loved Caesar but killed him due to his own ambition but also Caesar’s ambition, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more . Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; for his valour; and death for his ambition.” Brutus honors his legacy but had to end his life so that the roman people wouldn’t die of bring slaves. “ Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any speak; for him I have offended. I pause for a reply.” At the end of his speech he taunts anyone who questions his leadership and whoever does is not to be considered to be a roman.

After Brutus’s speech Mark Antony made his funeral speech. “ Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” He is just trying to make a regular formal speech and he didn’t come to give to compliment him for his legacy and or deeds, Mark Antony only came to bury Caesar. Unlike Brutus, Mark Antony was grieved to hear of Caesar’s death. “He was my friend, faithful and just to me.” Mark Antony had also called out that Brutus was ambitious, “ Ambition would be made of sterner stuff: Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse.” Mark Antony assumed that Brutus killed Caesar under his own ambition to secure his position into ruling Rome.

In conclusion both speeches are both the same due to how they both honor each other both living and in death, but they’re both different because Brutus’s speech was about saving the Roman people from becoming slaves under Julius Caesar’s rule, Mark Antony’s speech was about not only grieving for his close and faithful friend but to also call Brutus’s bluff that he killed Caesar under his own greed and ambition.

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