Busby 1

Kaylee Busby
English Honors II
Mooneyham
March 27, 2015
Character Analysis
In the play Julius Caesar, Antony, short for Marcus Antonius, is Julius Caesar's best
friend. Antony is not who everyone thinks he is. He is actually quite the opposite. Although
Antony is actually a very intelligent and observant person, everyone assumes that he is a partier
and nothing more than that. He may party often, but that does not mean that he is not an
intelligent person. Most people do not see that in him because he parties a lot, but as the saying
goes, do not judge a book by its cover. There are many statements that Antony makes throughout
the play that show that Antony does not just party. Antony surprises everyone by being more
intelligent and more observant than everyone assumes.
Some signs that show Antony is more observant and intelligent than everyone thinks are
shown by Antonys reaction towards the conspirators killing Caesar. The first sign is that Antony
gets his servant to make sure that everything is okay between him and the conspirators by saying,
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony may safely come to him and be resolved how Caesar hath
deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead so well as Brutus living, but
will follow the fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus through the hazards of this untrod state with
all true faith. (Shakespeare, 114). Antony says that if the conspirators prove to him that Caesar
deserved to be killed, then he will follow Brutuss orders and love Brutus more than Caesar.

Busby 2

Antony is getting on the conspirators good side so he can make them think that he is okay with
the killing of Caesar.
Another sign is shown by this quote, I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render
me his bloody hand. (Shakespeare, 118). This is spoken when Antony shook hands with all of
the conspirators to make sure that the blood was on everybodys hands, including Trebonius,
because he knows that everyone took part in killing Caesar. Antony is tricking the conspirators
into thinking that he is okay with the killing of Caesar by speaking to Caesars body, O, pardon
me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers. (Shakespeare,
124). Antony shows that he is not okay with the killing of Caesar in this aside, Over thy wounds
do I prophesy (Which like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips to beg the voice and utterance of
my tongue), A curse shall light upon the limbs of men. Domestic fury and fierce civil strife shall
cumber all the parts of Italy. (Shakespeare, 124). Antony wants revenge towards the
conspirators; and he plans on getting it.
Antony shows other signs during his speech at Caesar's funeral. In doing this he turned a
crowd predisposed to making Brutus their new king into a crowd that wanted to burn his house
down, (Silvesta). While in Caesars bedroom, he comes across his will. Antony uses reverse
psychology on the Roman people to make them want to hear Caesars will. I must not read it. It
is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.
And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar, it will enflame you, it will make you mad.
(Shakespeare, 138). The Romans reply very eagerly, The will! The testament! (Shakespeare,
138). Antony persuades the people of Rome to believe that the conspirators are traitors and leads
them to want revenge on the conspirators. Look you here, here is himself, marred, as you see,
with traitors. (Shakespeare, 140). The people of Rome listened to Antony and they wanted to

Busby 3

get revenge. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Let not a traitor live.
(Shakespeare, 142). Antony knows what he has done. He purposefully riled the Roman people so
he could get help for the revenge for the killing of Caesar, saying, Now let it work. Mischief,
thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt! (Shakespeare, 146).
Antony also shows that he is more observant and intelligent than everyone thinks by
thinking about things before he does them. He is very organized in the way that he does things.
He shows us this in Act 4 of Julius Caesar. Brutus and Cassius are levying powers. We must
straight make head. Therefore let our alliance be combined, our best friends made, our means
stretched. And let us presently go sit in council how covert matters may be best disclosed, and
open perils surest answered. (Shakespeare, 154). Antony says that he should build up their
forces so they will be prepared for Brutus and Cassiuss army. He also says that they should hold
a council to discuss what they are going to do. Antony is very prepared for everything that
occurs. He thinks before he acts. Only an intelligent person would be able to do this. If Antony
was not intelligent, he would just do; without thinking about the effects of the situation.
Antony also shows that he is intelligent and observant in Act V; right before the battle
between Antony and Brutus. "Tut, I am in the bosoms, and I know wherefore they do it. They
could be content to visit other places, and come down with fearful bravery, thinking by this face
to fasten in out thoughts that they have courage. But 'tis not so." (Shakespeare, 188). This quote
shows that Antony is observant and intelligent because Antony is saying that he will put himself
in Brutus and Cassius's place and he can tell that they do not want to battle. Antony is very
observant to say that the reason for Brutus and Cassius's army coming toward them first is to
make them think that they are full of courage, but Antony knows that is not true.

Busby 4

Antony surprises everyone by being more intelligent and more observant than people
think. Everyone assumes that he is not very intelligent or observant because he parties a lot.
Antony shows the people that thought low of him that he is observant and intelligent by the
actions he does in Julius Caesar. He makes a lot of statements to prove everyone wrong. Antony
persuades a huge crowd of Romans to change their minds about Brutus and the conspirators. The
Romans went from praising the conspirators, to hating them and wanting revenge. Antony also
uses reverse psychology on the Roman people to make them want to hear Caesar's will even
more. He also thinks about the effects of a situation before doing it. In Julius Caesar, Antony not
only shows that he is very intelligent, but he also shows that he is very observant as well.

Busby 5
Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar Shakespeare Made Easy. Ed. Alan Durband. N.p.:
Barron's
Educational Series, 1985. Print.
Silvesta, Augusta. "Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Analysis: Ambiguity, Theatrum
Mundi,
Stoicism." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Analysis: Ambiguity, Theatrum Mundi,
Stoicism.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.