Summary:
In the play Julius Caesar, Antony's personality changes as the play progresses from a loyal friend of Caesar, to a skillful politician, and to finally becoming a self-centered proprietor. The transformation occurs after the death of Caesar, which is Antony's perfect opportunity to assume leadership.
-1-
Antony's Transformation Essay
In the play Julius Caesar, do you think that Mark Antony is a loyal friend to Caesar or a skillful politician trying to cover his own ends? Do you think it is possible he could have been both, or not? In the play, there are many significant characters that help convey emotion, entertainment, and excitement. Mark Antony is one of these characters. Throughout the play, he plays a role of being Caesar's dearest friend or his, "right hand man." There is an instant where Antony portrays a new side of himself, different from the ordinary. He displays his amazing ability to influence people and rise to the occasion as a skillful politician. In the play Julius Caesar, Antony transforms from a companion of Caesar, to a demagogue, and in the end, he becomes a man working for his own end.
The Festival of Lupercal is the opening scene in the play were Antony is portrayed as a true, loyal friend of Caesar. It is also the scene where the readers are introduced to the main characters. Antony enters the festival alongside of Caesar as part of Caesar's friends and relatives. Coincidently, this is Caesar's arrival from his battle against Pompey's children whereby he defeats them. During the festival, a special event takes place in which Antony along with other Romans run a race carrying a goatskin whip. Ancient beliefs have it that if a woman is sterile and the whip touches her, she is cured from her curse of sterility. Since Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, is sterile, Caesar asks Antony to touch her along the race. As a true friend of Caesar, Antony responds by saying, "I shall remember: When Caesar says, 'Do this,' it is perform'd." (1.2.9-10). Additionally, Antony is also seen as Caesar's loyal friend when he offers Caesar a fake crown, or a coronet three times. "I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown-yet 'twas not a
-2-
crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets-and, as I told you, he put it by once: but for all that, to my thinking he would fain to have had it," says Casca to Brutus and Cassius. (1.2.235-239). This is very symbolic of Caesar's authority in Rome and it also foreshadows what would eventually happen. Lastly, Antony is observed as Caesar's true companion when he helps Caesar in the market place after Caesar falls down and foams at the mouth. Caesar is an epileptic and has many attacks. At the beginning of the play, Antony is seen as a loyal friend to Caesar and he shows this during the Festival of Lupercal.
The turning point of Antony from a loyal friend to a skillful politician takes place during Caesar's funeral. At the funeral, Brutus speaks to the commoners to make them realize that what he does is for the best interest of Rome. Brutus then gives Antony the right to speak on behalf of Caesar. Antony's speech is said to be one of the best-written pieces ever! This is the first time we see how much of a skillful politician Antony is. He shows his abilities by continuously saying, "Brutus is an honourable man."(3.2.81). As Antony says this, he shows how Brutus is not honorable by pointing out his faults causing the commoners to see what kind of man Brutus really is. Another way Antony uses his beautiful ability to speak is when he gathers everyone around Caesar's corpse and shows the mob the stab marks on Caesar's clothes at the time of his death. This is very effective because this speech grabs the crowds' attention and makes them realize that Caesar is a knowable man and does not deserve to die. At this point in Antony's speech, many people in the crowd are in tears. Furthermore, Antony is seen as a skillful politician when he stirs up the crowd by informing them about Caesar's will. "I found it in his closet, 'tis his will. Let but the commons hear this testament- which, pardon me, I do not mean to
-3-
read..." Mark Antony exclaims to the mob (3.2.128-130). This is an extremely intelligent way to get people to follow him or believe in what he is saying. Antony does not just read the will though; he uses a very clever way to let the commoners know about it. Antony informs them of it and waits until they beg of him to read it. Eventually he reads the will to finish off his speech and capture the commoners to be loyal to him. By the end of the speech, the commoners have gone from being faithful to Brutus to being devoted to Antony. Antony's speech changes the mobs' mood from energetic due to Brutus' speech, to excited because of Caesar's will, to sad because of Caesar's corpse, and to infuriated with the conspirators. Antony's political skills are shown during the funeral as he acts as a demagogue. This eventually leads him into becoming a man that is working for his own end.
The final part of Antony's transformation from a loyal friend by means of a skillful politician to a person working for his own end takes place during his meeting with Octavius and Lepidus and his battle in Philippi. After Antony's funeral oration, he automatically assumes leadership and practically takes the place of leader of Rome along with Octavius and Lepidus. Antony shows his power as the new leader during the meeting with the other two as they discuss who shall live, and who shall die. " These many then shall die, their names are pick'd," says Antony. (4.1.1). Additionally, after the three in power plan their strategies to kill the conspirators, they go to battle against Cassius and Brutus, the most important and the last conspirators alive. Antony wants to kill all the conspirators to ensure that nothing will happen to him. After the funeral, Antony assumes leadership by making changes and defeating all the conspirators.
-4-
In the play Julius Caesar, Antony's personality changes as the play progresses from a loyal friend of Caesar, to a skillful politician, and to finally becoming a self-centered proprietor. The transformation occurs after the death of Caesar, which is Antony's perfect opportunity to assume leadership. Antony takes advantage of this opportunity by acting as a demagogue in his eulogy. As you can see from the above paragraphs, Antony is a very imperative character whose characteristics change throughout the play from a friend to a leader, bringing emotion, entertainment and excitement to the play.
This is the complete article, containing 1,079 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page).
