Mark Antony Quotes

Question 1

‘Let each man render me in his bloody hand’ Act 3, Scene 1

Answer 1

• Manipulative.
• Attributive adjective ‘bloody’ illustrates violence and sacrifice.
• Use of noun ‘hand’ suggests unity and support. Antony is trying to take the side of the conspirators and agree with their endeavour.
• Reinforced with proper nouns afterwards such as ‘Marcus Brutus’, ‘Caius Cassius’ exemplifying support.
• Antony makes conspirator believe he does not have ill intentions. He will utilise this and take revenge and avenge Caesar.
• Parallels Elizabethan England as the natural order has been disrupted so there is now chaos.
• Antony is an advocate to restore this order.

Question 2

‘He was my friend, faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious And Brutus is an honourable man’ Act 3, Scene 2 - Funeral Oration

Answer 2

• Sarcasm.
• A semantic field of praise and friendship though ‘faith’, ‘faithful’, ‘just to me’ suggests want to revoke the hate to Caesar.
• A different POV, sees him as a perfect leader as opposed to a tyrannical (opposes POV of Brutus).
• Utilises of sarcasm through ‘But Brutus’ suggests Brutus was wrong when killing Caesar.
• Repetition of abstract noun ‘honourable’ highlights the opposite - Brutus is not honourable and makes the audience question Brutus’ endeavour.
• Parallels to the Great Chain of Being, since the King has been murdered, natural order has been disrupted leading to chaos. Antony must restore order against regicide.

Question 3

‘Friends, romans, countrymen’ Act 3, Scene 3 - Funeral Oration

Answer 3

• Not a stoic, literary foil to Brutus (opposition).
• Begins with a Tricolon.
• Noun ‘friends’ connotes unity and respect.
• This quote contrasts with Brutus’ start as his oration begins with ‘Romans, countrymen and lovers’. Brutus’ stoic philosophy to be unravelled as Brutus adheres to the principles of Roman values - duty before self, no emotional connection.
• Brutus’ stoicism puts him at a disadvantage as his lack of emotions can be used against him.
• Antony begins with ‘friends’ as opposed to ‘Romans’ to bring audience to his side. Utilises Pathos, which is emotional appeal as his is more personal.

Question 4

In Antony’s soliloquy, he presents conspirators as ‘butchers’ and says ‘domestic fury, fierce civil strife, blood and destruction’ Act 3, Scene 1 - Soliloquy

Answer 4

• Use of noun ‘butchers’ which connotes violence and brutality. A true representation of his feelings.
• Semantic field of war illustrated through, domestic fury, fierce civil strife, blood and destruction’. Foreshadows the imminent war that is about to befall on Rome.
• Noun ‘blood’ connotes bloodshed and warfare.
• Parallels with Elizabethan England because since Queen E has no heir, there were rumours of civil war as no one knew who would take the throne. In JC, the death of C has paved the way for imminent war as no one knows who will take the throne. Antony would instigate a rebellion to restore order.