Eulogy In Mark Antony's Speech

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“Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears;”. With these seven words Mark Antony started his speech that captured the plebeians hearts, and turned them cold. This speech led to chaos, and altered the fate of Rome. By way of example, we know that Mark Antony was a very persuasive man, that could change many people 's beliefs quickly. For example, how he persuaded the crowd in his funeral speech. Overall, this eulogy was anything but heartfelt, and intended to change the hearts of many Romans. Overall, Mark Antony managed to achieve his goal of persuasion by showing the crowd the will, the body, and using sarcasm when speaking of Brutus. “But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar; I found it in his closet, ‘tis his will:” Julius Caesar’s will made a debut as one of Mark Antony’s main claims in his persuasion of the plebeians. In addition, Mark Antony addressed the will to the plebeians after they had cheered Brutus on moments before. …show more content…

This suspense helps him in the long run with his goal of persuasion. The plebeians listen to what he has to say, between that time of hearing the will, and start to agree with the pleas Mark Antony makes. “‘Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For, if you should, O, what would come of it!” In this quote Mark Antony means that the people of Rome change their beliefs so often, like they did about Caesar after Brutus spoke, what would happen it they acquired Caesar’s inheritance. Therefore, the initial feelings the people get when hearing the words of Antony is guilt. In effect, Antony found another source of persuasion, the guilt of plebeians, them feeling horrible for themselves helped his case, he now had the upper hand. As a result, he managed to coerce them into wanting revenge. “Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal To every Roman citizen he gives-