http://www.utexas.edu/courses/ancientfilmCC304/lecture22/detail.php?linenum=3The passage that I have chosen to perform as a duet with Nahal takes place after the murder of Caesar. Mark Antony has just entered and discovered Caesar's body. As Antony enters the stage he immediately runs to Caesar's side and says his final goodbye. He then expresses his anger on Brutus, who has kindly welcomed him in. Antony demands to know "...who else must be let blood, who else is rank..." He says that if he is next, this would be the perfect time, along side Caesar. To Mark Antony, he would not want to die anywhere else than by his idol, Julius Caesar. Brutus quickly defends himself by saying that Antony has only seen the act done by his hands, not his heart. Inside, the conspirators are all feeling pity. Brutus is trying to have Antony understand their actions, and forgive them for the act.
This passage of Julius Caesar is significant because it foreshadows future conflict between the conspirators and Mark Antony and brings Antony into the play more. Antony has not been introduced much into the play, so this passage brings out his personality. He seemed to be just a follower of Caesar in the beginning of the play, but not we realize that there is more to him. He is very clever, this is shown before the passage we have chosen, and can be independent. The passage also shows foreshadowing. The conflict in this section of the scene could develop more in a later scene. Foreshadowing and characterization are shown in the passage that Nahal and I have chosen and these literary techniques help make this passage significant.
Brutus: But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.
Antony: O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know now, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world. I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Brutus: O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As by our hands and this our present act
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome-
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity-
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
This passage of Julius Caesar is significant because it foreshadows future conflict between the conspirators and Mark Antony and brings Antony into the play more. Antony has not been introduced much into the play, so this passage brings out his personality. He seemed to be just a follower of Caesar in the beginning of the play, but not we realize that there is more to him. He is very clever, this is shown before the passage we have chosen, and can be independent. The passage also shows foreshadowing. The conflict in this section of the scene could develop more in a later scene. Foreshadowing and characterization are shown in the passage that Nahal and I have chosen and these literary techniques help make this passage significant.
Brutus: But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.
Antony: O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know now, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world. I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Brutus: O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As by our hands and this our present act
You see we do, yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome-
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity-
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 148 - 176
