Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar culminates with Rome in a position of devastation and uncertainty following the death of Caesar. After speaking with the conspirators and gaining permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral, Antony weeps over Caesar’s marred corpse and predicts that Rome will fall into a state of chaos and destruction. Although several characters provoke the demolition that ensues, Antony is the most responsible for Rome’s ruination. Antony’s own desire for power, conflict, and revenge ultimately transforms Rome into a state teeming with political turmoil and excessive violence, causing his dismal prediction to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Antony’s intense desire for conflict causes Rome to fall into a state of havoc. During his …show more content…
While giving his speech to the crowd at Caesar’s funeral, Antony proclaims, “When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept./Ambition should be made of sterner stuff./Yet Brutus says he was ambitious” (3.2.90-92). The portrayal of Caesar as a caring, emotional leader by Antony contradicts the tyrannical image that Brutus paints of Caesar, and effectively turns the Plebians against the conspirators. Furthermore, although Antony previously promised not to blame the conspirators, his thirst for revenge and unwavering loyalty to Caesar triumphs, inducing an atmosphere of discord and civil unrest in Rome. Antony’s pursuit of revenge continues to damage Rome when he is unable to admit wrongdoing, and instead blames Brutus for Rome’s demise, saying “In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words./Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart,/Crying 'Long live, hail, Caesar!’”(5.1.30-32). Antony complains that Brutus committed evil deeds and concealed them with powerful oration, yet Antony fails to realize his own wrongdoing and hypocrisy. Although Brutus clearly had pure intentions for killing Caesar, Antony’s fixation on revenge blinds Antony from realizing that Rome is in a hopeless state of distress, causing Rome to fall deeper into
Antony’s intense desire for conflict causes Rome to fall into a state of havoc. During his …show more content…
While giving his speech to the crowd at Caesar’s funeral, Antony proclaims, “When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept./Ambition should be made of sterner stuff./Yet Brutus says he was ambitious” (3.2.90-92). The portrayal of Caesar as a caring, emotional leader by Antony contradicts the tyrannical image that Brutus paints of Caesar, and effectively turns the Plebians against the conspirators. Furthermore, although Antony previously promised not to blame the conspirators, his thirst for revenge and unwavering loyalty to Caesar triumphs, inducing an atmosphere of discord and civil unrest in Rome. Antony’s pursuit of revenge continues to damage Rome when he is unable to admit wrongdoing, and instead blames Brutus for Rome’s demise, saying “In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words./Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart,/Crying 'Long live, hail, Caesar!’”(5.1.30-32). Antony complains that Brutus committed evil deeds and concealed them with powerful oration, yet Antony fails to realize his own wrongdoing and hypocrisy. Although Brutus clearly had pure intentions for killing Caesar, Antony’s fixation on revenge blinds Antony from realizing that Rome is in a hopeless state of distress, causing Rome to fall deeper into