[Granville-Barker maintains that on the surface Antony appears to be a "good sort, initially supporting the conspirators after they have assassinated Caesar; but underneath he is really an instinctive politician, the critic declares, who demonstrates his opportunism by manipulating the crowd to avenge Caesar's death. Granville-Barker further contends that Antony's rousing the Roman populace is not altogether mischievous; rather, it also rflilects his empathy for them because he considers himself a common man whose sensibilities are outraged at the injustice of Caesar's murder. For further commentary on Antony's character, see the excerpts by Lawrence Danson, Robert E. Knoll, Brents Stirling, and Gayle Greene.]
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to
fortune. . . .
[IV. iii. 218-19]
Mark Antony cannot always.....
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