There are many twists, turns, ups, and downs in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Many characters impacted the opinions of the citizens, some more than others. After Caesar's murder, the conspirators allowed Antony to speak after Brutus at the funeral under a few conditions. While following these conditions Antony had a much larger impact than Brutus on the citizens. The tone in Antony's speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is passionate, Shakespeare proves this through his use of rhetorical questions and reverse psychology in order to change the citizens opinion of Brutus and Caesar.
Antony demonstrates passion through his use of rhetorical questions to cause the audience to rethink their opinions. Unlike Brutus, Antony shows a lot of emotion throughout his speech, including sarcasm while asking questions. Antony, while following all of the conditions he was given,
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He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
Did this is Caesar seem ambitious? (III.ii. 88-92)
Antony is using this question to ask the citizens what they already know. While Brutus uses questions against Caesar, Antony uses them for Caesar, but against Brutus. He does not really agree that Brutus is honorable, but is making fun of him. He shows passion by using thought and emotions while asking the citizens questions, this causes them to gain respect and trust Antony over Brutus. Marc Antony makes a remarkable personality change as a character, from a “party guy” to an extremely clever man by using reverse psychology in order to persuade listeners. Antony utilizes Brutus’s own words against him to show the truth about the conspirators and their intentions of killing Caesar. Shakespeare shows this when he writes But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar. I found it in his closet; ‘tis his will. Let but the commons hear this testament, Which (pardon me) I do not mean to read, (III.ii.