“And for Marc Antony, think not of him, for he can do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head is off.” (II. i. 188-190). So declares Marcus Brutus, a conspirator in the plot to kill Julius Caesar. Brutus 's bold words here would trigger a chain of events that ultimately lead to his demise. Marc Antony is a close supporter of Caesar, whose murder and the aftermath of which are chronicled in “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare (rpt. In Elements in Literature. Fourth course. Austin: Holt, 2003 [775-877]). Brutus tragically underestimates Antony, and concludes that he is too dependent on Caesar to cause harm after Brutus and the other conspirators kill Caesar. His decision not to kill Antony is based on a false assessment of Antony’s character. It is true that Antony is deeply loyal to Caesar, but his loyalty is not so overpowering as to render him incompetent. Antony’s unexpected slyness
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Before venturing out of his house when Caesar is killed, Antony sends a servant to the conspirators to receive a promise of his safety, should he desire to come to them (III. i. 133-153). This shows that Antony possesses intuitive foresight, and is able to maintain his intelligence even under copious stress, as he is due to Caesar’s murder. Antony’s intelligence is evidenced even more so following his eulogy speech. He employs reverse psychology on the people listening by telling them that he is in possession of Caesar’s will, but does not intend to read it to them. This causes the people to be filled with curiosity about the hidden secrets of the will. When they ask to hear it, Antony merely says “Tis’ good you know not that you are his heirs. For if you should- Oh, what would come of it!” (ii. 144-145). The people then begin demanding to see the will, and Antony does what he had intended to do all along by reading
Before venturing out of his house when Caesar is killed, Antony sends a servant to the conspirators to receive a promise of his safety, should he desire to come to them (III. i. 133-153). This shows that Antony possesses intuitive foresight, and is able to maintain his intelligence even under copious stress, as he is due to Caesar’s murder. Antony’s intelligence is evidenced even more so following his eulogy speech. He employs reverse psychology on the people listening by telling them that he is in possession of Caesar’s will, but does not intend to read it to them. This causes the people to be filled with curiosity about the hidden secrets of the will. When they ask to hear it, Antony merely says “Tis’ good you know not that you are his heirs. For if you should- Oh, what would come of it!” (ii. 144-145). The people then begin demanding to see the will, and Antony does what he had intended to do all along by reading