Mark Antony - Character Analysis

Mark Antony, initially a devoted and carefree companion to Caesar transforms into an ambitious leader skilled in manipulating public opinion and seizing power after Caesar’s death.

In this article, we will look deeper at Mark Antony’s character exploring his charm, and intelligence in Julius Caesar. This analysis will give a new understanding of his character to the ICSE students to help them understand his cunningness, loyalty, and ability to navigate complex political landscapes.

1. Antony, The Pillar

Antony’s character evolves in the final three acts of the play. Initially, he is seen as a limb of Caesar as Brutus describes in the initial acts.

“But, I do fear him,
The more I tell him, the more he is a Caesar.
He is a limb of Caesar.”

This line proves that Brutus saw Antony as a mere reflection of Caesar considering him harmless and lacking independent thinking. Antony’s exceptional skills as a soldier, statesman, motivator, organiser, orator transform him into Caesar’s avenger and a triple pillar of the world by the end of the play.

Moulton believes Antony has all the power that belongs to the intellectual and practical life yet critics believe that he has only one aim in life: unmitigated self-seeking. This, however, is not the truth and he is a lot more than an unmitigated self-seeker driven by a mix of loyalty, ambition, and strategic intelligence.

2. A Reveller

Antony’s first appearance is as a runner on the feast of Lupercalia where he seeks to please Caesar embodying loyalty with his statement

"When Caesar says,
'Do this, it is performed".

He’s a carefree reveller enjoying the pleasures of life with the Feast of Lupercalia offering him one such opportunity to indulge.

3. Beyond Caesar’s Flattery

He speaks only three more lines before the assassination, two of which reflect his awareness of the tense situation. He views Caesar as mistaken and perceives Cassius as a threat due to his opposition to the regime.

This reveals that Antony is far from the mindless flatterer critics often claim he is, just as Caesar cannot be seen as purely arrogant or despotic for tolerating dissenting voices like Antony’s.

4. Orator and Quick-Witted Schemer

In Julius Caesar, Antony’s military genius and self-destructive tendencies which earned him the role of Caesar’s deputy are not much highlighted. His nature of self-indulgence also is scarcely mentioned here.

Instead, he is depicted as a powerful orator and quick-witted schemer with a charismatic energy that makes him captivating. His charm and lightheartedness often masked by music and revelry deceive Brutus into underestimating him leading to a misjudgment of Antony's true power and ambition.

For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
When Caesar's head is off.
Cassius, however, justifiably thinks otherwise
.... we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver ;

5. Shrewd Contriver

We learn that Antony's character is initially unimpressive to others. Brutus views him as nothing more than a tool of Caesar while Cassius calls him a masker and a reveller later on the plains of Philippi.

However, these criticisms lose their weight and Antony utters in reply "Old Cassius still!" Cassius is jealous. Though Cassius is "a shrewd contriver", Antony ultimately proves to be the successful manipulator, outsmarting Cassius at key moments in the play.

6. Antony’s loyalty to Caesar after his murder

Antony flees to the safety of his house after Caesar’s murder but quickly sends a servant to the assassins with a tactful message and requests an interview. His plan is simple to seek revenge for Caesar’s murder but not before he has won over Brutus.

His message also assures loyalty to the assassins giving him satisfaction for Caesar’s assassination. His diplomacy succeeds when Brutus is completely won over to the extent that he even overrules Cassius’s misgivings.

7. Antony’s Bold Loyalty

Antony significantly sets his eyes on Caesar’s body first as soon as he arrives and turns his attention to the assassins later. He tells the conspirators that he is ready to die but Brutus reassures him of the love and respect for him.

When the shares are divided Cassius reluctantly agrees to offer Antony an equal share acknowledging his influence in the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination.

8. Prediction about Caesar’s spirit seeking revenge

When he’s left alone Antony’s suppressed rage erupts in a hideous prophecy foretelling vengeance and chaos though the ultimate goal remains uncertain.

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;

9. A picture of changing emotions

He’s at his very best in the Act 3 Scene 2 as he exhibits his oratorical brilliance skillfully shifting between humility, accusation, reminiscence, indignation, pathos, defiance, modesty, and rebuke. Each emotional change builds toward the powerful climax of his speech stirring the crowd in his favour.

Her was Caesar! When come another

10. Mark Antony’s Speech

Antony uses every rhetorical trick known in the oratory to incite the crowd by building their anger before revealing Caesar's will. When he knows that the crowd is enraged he cunningly employs their emotions turning them into a hideous mob.

Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt !
The mob's fury and violent lust for revenge fills him with fierce joy when he visualises the coming destruction
Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.

From that point on, the Prophecy recurs frequently in the play where Brutus and Cassius utter Caesar’s name while passing by.

11. Defending Himself

Antony seeks power to avenge Caesar not for personal gain, refusing it to share with the conspirators. Critics also consider Antony to be callous and hard-hearted when he barters his nephew’s life for that of Lepidus's brother during the proscription.

It is seen as a necessary evil to restore order. It is an ugly task to be performed for the state to be cleansed of its bad elements and sanity to be restored. Despite taking some of Caesar’s wealth, his main focus was to defeat the conspirators.

12. Shakespeare’s View of Antony’s Morality

Shakespeare does not portray Antony as evil. He presents him with likeable qualities depicting him as a man capable of achieving great things when he focuses his efforts.

Overall, Mark Antony’s character is represented as a blend of loyalty, charm, and ability to manipulate the crowd without any bad intentions. Despite his shrewdness, Shakespeare portrays him as a man of loyalty yet opportunistic, compassionate yet ruthless ultimately leaving a lasting impression in Roman history.