The Sunday News
WE pick up our story at the time when Mark Antony says to the crowd, “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.” This is the time when he uses Caesar’s body to incite the mob to rise and mutiny against the conspirators. Caesar’s mantle recalls proud memories of the glorious victory of the Roman army over the Nervvi — but the same mantle has been pierced by the stabs of assassins of Cassius, of Casca, of Brutus himself.
Mark Antony points out the stab wound made by Caesar’s beloved, Brutus. As he drew back his dagger, blood rushed in a stream from the wound “as if to be resolv’d if Brutus so unkindly knock’d or no, for Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.” He describes the wound made by Brutus as the unkindest cut of them all. For when noble Caesar saw him stab, ingratitude stronger than treachery defeated him completely, and his mighty heart burst open. He covered his face with his cloak and fell down at the base of Pompey’s statue.
He describes Caesar’s fall as great. Then all of them including himself, fell down while treason prospered. His words have had the desired effect as he says he sees that they now weep, and they feel the bite of pity. He describes their tears as sacred and asks them why they weep when they can see Caesar’s wounded body. When they actually see Caesar’s mutilated body citizens shout in succession: “O piteous spectacle! O noble Caesar! O woeful day! O traitors! Villains! O most bloody sight!”
The crowd is highly agitated and is ready to burn and kill. Antony encourages them to stay before running amok. His speech has inflamed the mob but he says: “Let me not stir you up, to such a sudden flood of mutiny, they that have done this deed are honourable. What private griefs they have, alas I know not, that made them do it. They are wise and honourable . . .” He is stirring the crowd to mutiny, yet he says he is no orator as Brutus is.
Mark Antony cunningly humbles himself telling the mob that they know that he is a plain, straightforward man, who loves his friends. They are aware of his shortcomings as a speaker, those who permitted him to speak. He says he has neither intelligence nor command over words, nor expressions that can arouse passion in a crowd. He can only speak out plain truth. If he were Brutus and Brutus Antony, there would have been an Antony in whom they would have heard the same thing as he has heard and would excite their spirits to such a high pitch that every wound of Caesar would have a tongue that would move even the stones of Rome and rise in mutiny.
This is punctuated by: “We will revolt,” from the mob. Ironically Antony’s speech leads to a revolt. The mob erupts and goes out to kill the conspirators. As they rush like that, they meet Cinna the poet. They demand to know his name and business. Fearfully he answers them, and on hearing his name, they accuse him of being a conspirator. He refutes that telling them that he is a poet by profession, and in fact he is going to Caesar’s funeral. But the inflamed mob cannot be moved.
Cinna is beaten for the poor quality of his verse. This justifies the idea that Cinna is killed because the crowd is blood thirst and could have been murdered anyway whether the answer he gave was satisfactory, such is mob psychology that a mob cannot do anything at the spur of the moment, regardless of the consequences.
Next we meet Mark Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus (who now comprise the triumvirate which governs Rome. They have a list of enemies of the new regime who must die. The list includes Antony’s nephew and Lepidus. Lepidus is sent to Caesar’s home to fetch the will so that they can decide how to cut down the payment of some of the monies bequeathed by Julius Caesar. Is this not corruption that the triumvirate decides to tamper with Caesar’s will?
Alone with Octavius, Antony describes Lepidus as “a slight unmeritable man” and a barren-spirited fellow”, fit only to be their instrument for gaining full power. Octavius objects to this saying Lepidus is a proven and brave soldier. Antony responds to this by asserting his authority. He tells Octavius that he is older than him. Although they honour Lepidus, it is only to let him share the slander that men will lay upon them.
Antony adds that Lepidus shall bear the load as a donkey bears the weight of gold, to groan under their direction. When it has brought their treasure as desired by them, they will take off his load and turn him loose to roam and graze in the fields like an ass shaking his ears. He goes on describing the similarity between Lepidus and his horse. He gives his horse plenty food. He teaches him to fight, to take turns to stop, and to run straight, his motion entirely under his control.
Lepidus must be taught and trained and ordered to go forth; he is a person who lacks spirit, one who lives on castaways, broken fragments and imitations. Things which have become stale due to use by other men are considered fashionable by him. Antony tells Octavius not to talk of him as anything but as property. Turning to more important things, Antony tells Octavius that Brutus and Cassius are raising a strong army while their resources are strained. Due to great danger confronting them, the two men decide to combine forces to fight the conspirators.
For views link up with [email protected] or sms only to 0772113207
