Maurice Goldston

Born circa January 14, 83 BC Born into a powerful Family Antony travelled to Athens to study rhetoric and philosophy. Best friend and close relative of J. Caesar Politician, General, Administrator of Italy. Lovers with Cleopatra MARC ANTONY

After the Senate assassinates Julius Caesar,there is a large gathering (funeral) of the Roman population for the now deceased ruler. During this “gathering” many Brutus ( Leader of the Coup) speaks about his sorrow in a very persuading (campaign) speech, after which it is Marc Antony’s turn to show his sorrow (campaign).Julius Caesar SUBJECT/SETTING

Mark Antony is trying to seize power of Rome after the death and uses his speech to persuade the crowd to follow him and to resent the conspiritors. RHETORICAL GENIUS

“I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;” Separates himself from Caesar but not from all his principles. EXCERPTS EXPLAINED

“For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men–” Separates himself from Brutus and the other murders members of the Senate Antony calls the conspiritors “honorable” over and over for three reasons 1)To use their honor to discredit their act 2)To sarcastically call them liars 3)To avoid being killed like J.Caesar EXCERPTS EXPLAINED

But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: EXCERPTS EXPLAINED

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, But here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? After Antony finished discrediting his adversaries he concludes by sayingsaying that people loved Caesar so they could easily love him. Antony illustrates himself as the best option left for power.illustrates EXCERPTS EXPLAINED