These are words spoken by Mark Antony, who unlike Brutus and Cassius, is truly loyal to Julius Caesar. The reverence Antony had towards Caesar was shown throughout the play, when he offers Caesar a crown, in his speech, and his soliloquies. His devotion was so great, it was acknowledged by the conspirators. “[We see Antony as] A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,/ If he improve them, may well stretch so far/ As to annoy us all; which to prevent,/ Let Antony and Caesar fall together” (II, i, 171-174). To which Brutus replies to Cassius with; “If he love Caesar, all that he can do/ Is to himself: take thought and die for Caesar” (II, i, 200-201). This exchange shows how wary the schemer, Cassius, is of Antony’s loyalty to Caesar. Antony’s loyalty to the commoners is shown when he discusses Caesar’s will with his triumvirate. “Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine/ How to cut off some charge in legacies” (IV, i, 10-11). Although one could argue that every roman slaughtered in the war would net an unclaimed seventy-five drachmas, the intention of stealing from the common people shows his true colours to the plebeians. Antony 's loyalty lasted even after Caesar’s demise, for he sparked a civil war in Rome to avenge his fallen leader, but his loyalty was shown once more when he allies himself with Caesar’s son Octavius and calling him the next ruler of Rome; Caesar. “[Antony to Octavius] No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge” (V, i, 25). We know his loyalty is not solely to himself because he hands the throne to Caesar’s son rather than taking it for himself. Through this, we know that Antony’s loyalties lied with Caesar, not to Rome and its people or to himself, thus making him the only one of the three loyal to…
