Mark Antony, a true and noble friend of Julius Caesar, uses various rhetorical devices in his funeral speech to produce the desired effect on the mob. He dramatically enters with Caesar’s dead body to win the sympathies of the crowd. He is a shrewd and a powerful orator. At first he speaks in such a manner that it seems to the mob that he is in full agreement with Brutus about Caesar. Then step by step he depicts Brutus as a villain and Caesar as the wronged man. He repeatedly calls Brutus noble and honourable. He reminds the mob that thrice Caesar was offered the crown at the feast of Lupercal and each time he had refused. “Ambition must be made of sterner stuff.” He removes the cover from Caesar’s dead body and asks them to see how brutally the conspirators had stabbed Caesar’s body. He plays upon their emotions and incites them to mutiny and rebellion. Finally, he announces the will of Julius Caesar in which Caesar has left to every Roman citizen 75 drachmas as well as his orchards for their use and for their heirs. As a result, the mob is incited against the conspirators.
