സുഹൃത്തുക്കളെ, റോമാക്കാരേ, ദേശവാസികളേ, ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുവിൻ.
ഞാൻ സീസറിൻ്റെ ശവസംസ്കാരത്തിന് വന്നതാണ്; അയാളെ പ്രശംസിക്കാൻ വന്നതല്ല.
മനുഷ്യൻ്റെ തിന്മകൾ നമ്മൾ കുറേ കാലത്തേക്ക് ഓർക്കും
പക്ഷെ അവർ ചെയ്ത നല്ല കാര്യങ്ങൾ നമ്മൾ വേഗം മറന്നു പോകും.
സീസർ എന്തെങ്കിലും നല്ലത് ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അതെല്ലാം അയാളോടുകൂടെ അടക്കപ്പെടട്ടെ.
Context
Antony made this speech at Caesar’s funeral, right after his friend Julius Caesar was killed. The people of Rome were listening to Brutus, who had explained why Caesar was killed. Brutus said Caesar was too ambitious and that his death was necessary for Rome’s good.
Then Antony spoke. At first, he acted like he agreed with Brutus, calling him an “honorable man.” But as he continued, he cleverly made the crowd question whether Caesar was really ambitious. He reminded them of Caesar’s kindness, his generosity, and how he refused the crown. Slowly, he made the people realize that Caesar’s murder was unfair. By the end of the speech, Antony had turned the crowd against Brutus and the other killers.
Before the Assassination
- Caesar’s Rise to Power – Julius Caesar became a strong leader, winning battles and gaining control over Rome.
- Senators Grow Worried – Some senators feared Caesar wanted to be king and would destroy Rome’s republic.
- Brutus and Cassius Conspire – Brutus, Cassius, and other senators secretly planned to kill Caesar to protect Rome’s freedom.
- Warnings Ignored – Caesar received many warnings, including a prophecy and his wife Calpurnia’s dream, but he still went to the Senate.
- The Ides of March (March 15, 44 BCE) – The day of Caesar’s assassination arrived.
- Caesar Arrives at the Senate – Despite warnings, he attended the Senate meeting as planned.
- Conspirators Surround Caesar – The senators gathered around Caesar, pretending to present petitions.
- Casca Strikes First – One conspirator, Casca, stabbed Caesar first, beginning the attack.
- The Final Blow – Caesar was stabbed 23 times, with Brutus also stabbing him.
- Caesar’s Last Words – According to legend, Caesar said “Et tu, Brute?” expressing shock that Brutus betrayed him.
After the Assassination
- Caesar Falls – He collapsed and died at the base of Pompey’s statue.
- The Conspirators Justify the Killing – Brutus and Cassius told the people of Rome that Caesar’s death was necessary for the republic.
- Antony’s Funeral Speech – Mark Antony spoke at Caesar’s funeral, turning the crowd against the conspirators.
- Public Outrage – The people became furious and rioted, attacking the conspirators.
- Brutus and Cassius Flee – They escaped Rome, preparing for war against Antony and Octavian (Caesar’s heir).
- Civil War Begins – Antony and Octavian fought Brutus and Cassius.
- Battle of Philippi (42 BCE) – Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius.
- Brutus and Cassius Die – Both committed suicide after losing the battle.
- Antony and Octavian Take Over – They ruled Rome together for a time.
- Octavian Becomes Emperor – Octavian (later Augustus) became the first emperor of Rome, ending the republic.
Modern Version
Friends, Romans, countrymen, listen to me.
I am here to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
People’s wrongdoings are remembered long after they die,
But their good deeds are often forgotten.
Let that be the case with Caesar.
Brutus has told you that Caesar was too ambitious.
If that’s true, it was a serious mistake,
And he has paid for it with his life.
I speak today with permission from Brutus and the others—
Brutus is an honorable man,
And so are they all, honorable men.
Caesar was my friend—loyal and fair to me.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
Caesar brought many prisoners back to Rome,
And the money from their release helped our city.
Does that sound like ambition?
When the poor suffered, Caesar felt their pain and cried for them.
A truly ambitious man wouldn’t do that.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all saw that on the feast day,
I offered Caesar a king’s crown three times—
And three times, he refused it.
Does that seem like ambition to you?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And surely, he is an honorable man.
I am not here to argue with Brutus,
I am here to tell you what I know.
Once, you all loved Caesar.
Why don’t you mourn him now?
Oh, wisdom has vanished,
And people have lost their ability to reason.
Please be patient with me—
My heart is with Caesar in his grave,
And I need a moment to gather myself.
Author
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was a poet, playwright and actor and is known as the Bard of Avon, England’s national poet. His extant works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets and three long narrative poems. He is best known for his four great tragedies Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth.
Why was Caesar really killed?
Julius Caesar was killed because some Roman leaders believed he had become too powerful and was a threat to the republic. Many senators feared that he wanted to make himself king, which went against Rome’s traditions of shared power. Brutus, Cassius, and other conspirators thought they were protecting Rome from a ruler who might turn into a dictator. They believed killing Caesar was necessary to keep Rome free. However, not everyone agreed. Antony, Caesar’s friend, argued that Caesar was generous and cared for the people. After Antony’s speech at the funeral, many Romans turned against the conspirators, leading to a civil war.
Textual Analysis
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.
1. What does “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” mean?
Antony is speaking to the people of Rome. He calls them friends to make them feel close to him, and Romans to remind them of their shared identity. He asks them to lend him their ears, which means he wants them to listen carefully.
2. Why does Antony say “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him”?
He says this to make people think he is neutral. At first, he pretends he is only at the funeral to bury Caesar, not to talk about how great he was. But later, he cleverly makes people admire Caesar and feel angry about his death.
3. What does “The evil that men do lives after them” mean?
Antony is saying that when people die, their mistakes and bad actions are remembered for a long time. Their faults live on in people’s minds.
4. What does “The good is oft interred with their bones” mean?
This means that when people die, their good deeds are often forgotten. “Interred with their bones” means buried with them in their grave. Antony is implying that people will forget Caesar’s kindness and only remember the bad things others said about him.
5. Why does Antony say “So let it be with Caesar”?
He is pretending to agree with Brutus and the other senators. He is saying, “Okay, let’s forget Caesar’s good deeds.” But in reality, Antony does not want people to forget. He is preparing them to think about Caesar’s true nature.
6. How is Antony using words cleverly here?
Antony speaks carefully. He pretends to agree with Brutus, but he slowly makes the crowd realize that Caesar was actually a good man. He does this to turn them against Brutus and the other conspirators.
7. What is the mood of this part of the speech?
At first, the mood is calm and respectful, because Antony is talking at a funeral. But there is also sadness, since Caesar has died. As the speech continues, the mood changes—people start feeling doubt about Brutus and later anger against him.
8. Why was this speech important?
Antony’s speech changed Rome. At first, the crowd agreed with Brutus, believing Caesar’s death was necessary. But Antony’s words made them doubt and then hate Brutus and the conspirators. This speech started a rebellion and led to war.
9. How does this speech show Antony’s intelligence?
Antony is smart and persuasive. He does not directly say that Brutus was wrong—he lets the crowd figure it out on their own. This way, nobody can accuse him of lying or breaking the rules, but he still makes people change their minds.
10. What is the main message of this part of the speech?
Antony is preparing the people to rethink Caesar’s death. He subtly shows how unfair it is that good deeds are forgotten and only bad things are remembered. He is slowly making people feel sympathy for Caesar and making them question Brutus’s actions.
The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, –
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men, –
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.
1. What does Antony mean by “The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious”?
Antony reminds the crowd that Brutus said Caesar was ambitious. He does not directly disagree but wants people to think about whether Brutus was telling the truth.
2. Why does Antony say, “If it were so, it was a grievous fault”?
He is saying that if Caesar was really ambitious, then it was a serious mistake. However, Antony carefully avoids saying that Caesar was ambitious—he wants people to question it themselves.
3. What does “And grievously hath Caesar answered it” mean?
This means Caesar has paid a heavy price for his supposed ambition—he was killed. Antony makes people feel sympathy for Caesar by reminding them how brutally he was punished.
4. Why does Antony mention Brutus and call him “honourable”?
He repeats that Brutus is “honourable,” but he says it in a way that makes people doubt it. Antony does not openly attack Brutus—he lets the crowd start questioning his honesty themselves.
5. Why does Antony say “So are they all, all honourable men”?
Antony includes all the conspirators, pretending to praise them. But by repeating “honourable,” he makes people wonder if they really deserve that title.
6. Why does Antony say “Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral”?
He is reminding the people that he is only here to speak at the funeral, not to argue or create trouble. But in reality, he is slowly making them turn against Brutus and the conspirators.
7. How does Antony use words cleverly in this part of the speech?
He does not openly accuse Brutus or the other senators. Instead, he makes the crowd think for themselves. By repeating words like “honourable” and talking about how Caesar suffered, he creates doubt and makes people question the truth.
8. What effect does Antony’s speech have on the people?
At first, the crowd believes Brutus. But as Antony speaks, they begin to doubt Brutus and feel sympathy for Caesar. Eventually, they turn against the conspirators completely.
9. How does Antony compare to Brutus in his way of speaking?
Brutus speaks directly and logically, explaining why Caesar was killed. Antony, however, is emotional and persuasive—he doesn’t argue openly but makes the crowd feel the injustice of Caesar’s death.
10. What is the hidden meaning behind Antony’s words here?
Antony pretends to agree with Brutus, but he is actually challenging him. He is leading the people to realize that Brutus might not be so honourable after all. His careful choice of words makes the crowd turn against Brutus without him directly accusing him.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
1. What does Antony mean by “He was my friend, faithful and just to me”?
Antony is saying that Caesar was not just a leader, but also a loyal and fair friend to him. He wants the people to see that Caesar was a trustworthy man, not a selfish ruler.
2. Why does Antony repeat “But Brutus says he was ambitious”?
Antony is reminding the people that Brutus called Caesar ambitious, but he keeps questioning whether that is really true. By repeating it, he makes the crowd doubt Brutus’s words.
3. Why does Antony call Brutus “an honourable man” again?
Antony keeps saying Brutus is “honourable,” but he does it sarcastically. He wants the people to think about whether Brutus truly deserves to be called that.
4. What does “He hath brought many captives home to Rome” mean?
Caesar won battles and brought prisoners back to Rome. Instead of keeping the money from their ransom for himself, he used it to help Rome. Antony is asking—does that seem like the behavior of an ambitious man who only cared about power?
5. What does “Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill” mean?
The money paid by the captured enemies was used to fill Rome’s treasury (coffers). This means Caesar didn’t keep the money for himself—he helped Rome’s economy instead.
6. Why does Antony ask “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?”
Antony is making the crowd think. If Caesar was truly ambitious, why would he give money to Rome instead of keeping it? Antony wants people to realize that Caesar was generous, not power-hungry.
7. What does “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” mean?
Antony is saying that Caesar cared for the poor. Whenever they suffered, Caesar felt their pain and even cried for them. He is showing that Caesar was kind and not selfish.
8. What does “Ambition should be made of sterner stuff” mean?
Antony argues that if Caesar was really ambitious, he should have been tougher and more selfish. But Caesar wasn’t—he was emotional and cared about people. Antony is proving that Caesar was not as ambitious as Brutus claimed.
9. Why does Antony repeat the same ideas multiple times?
By repeating key points, Antony makes sure the crowd understands. Each time he says “Brutus says he was ambitious,” people doubt Brutus more. He carefully makes the people rethink everything.
10. What is Antony’s goal in this part of the speech?
Antony wants the people to stop believing Brutus. He doesn’t directly say Brutus is wrong, but he cleverly makes the crowd realize that Caesar was a kind, generous man. This is Antony’s way of turning the crowd against the conspirators without openly accusing them.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
1. What does Antony mean by “You all did see that on the Lupercal”?
Antony is reminding the people that they personally saw what happened on the Lupercal, a Roman festival. He wants them to recall the truth for themselves rather than just believing Brutus’s words.
2. What was the Lupercal festival?
The Lupercalia was a Roman celebration held on February 15, where people prayed for health and fertility. It was during this festival that Antony offered Caesar a crown.
3. What does “I thrice presented him a kingly crown” mean?
Antony is saying that he offered Caesar a crown three times, meaning he gave him the chance to become king.
4. How did Caesar respond when Antony offered him the crown?
Caesar refused the crown all three times, showing that he did not want to be king.
5. Why is Antony asking, “Was this ambition?”
He is making the crowd think—if Caesar were really ambitious, wouldn’t he have taken the crown? Antony wants people to realize that Caesar was not power-hungry.
6. Why does Antony repeat “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious”?
Antony is challenging Brutus’s statement. He keeps repeating it to make people question Brutus’s claim and realize it might not be true.
7. What effect does Antony’s speech have on the crowd at this moment?
The people start doubting Brutus. Antony’s words make them rethink whether Caesar was really ambitious or if Brutus had misled them.
8. Why does Antony keep calling Brutus “an honourable man”?
He says it sarcastically. At first, it seems like he is praising Brutus, but he actually wants people to start questioning whether Brutus deserves to be called honorable.
9. How is Antony using persuasion in this speech?
Instead of attacking Brutus directly, Antony makes the crowd realize the truth on their own. He repeats facts, asks questions, and slowly leads them to see Brutus differently.
10. What is the main message of this part of the speech?
Antony wants the people to see that Caesar was not ambitious. By reminding them of the Lupercal event, he proves Caesar refused power, making Brutus’s claim seem false.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him?
O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason! – Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
- What does Antony mean by “I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke”?
Antony is saying that he is not here to argue against Brutus directly. Instead, he will simply share facts that the people already know, allowing them to decide the truth for themselves. - Why does Antony say, “But here I am to speak what I do know”?
He is shifting the focus to his personal experience with Caesar. Instead of debating Brutus, he wants to remind people of what they themselves witnessed about Caesar’s life. - What does “You all did love him once, not without cause” mean?
Antony reminds the crowd that they once loved and respected Caesar for good reasons. He wants them to think about why they supported Caesar before and why they suddenly turned against him. - What does Antony mean by, “What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him”?
He is asking, Why are you not mourning Caesar now? If they loved him before, why are they not sad about his death? He wants the people to realize that they have been manipulated into staying silent. - What does “O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts” mean?
Antony is saying that wisdom and fairness have disappeared, leaving people to behave like wild animals (brutish beasts), accepting what they are told without thinking for themselves. - What does “And men have lost their reason” mean?
He believes people have stopped thinking logically. They accepted Brutus’s words without questioning them, even though they knew Caesar to be kind and generous. - Why does Antony say “Bear with me”?
Antony pretends to be overwhelmed with emotion. He is stirring the crowd’s feelings, making them more sympathetic toward Caesar. - What does “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar” mean?
He expresses his deep sadness by saying that his heart is with Caesar in the coffin—meaning he is heartbroken over his death. - Why does Antony say “And I must pause till it come back to me”?
He pretends he needs a moment to regain his emotions. This dramatic pause makes the crowd feel more emotional and strengthens their anger toward Caesar’s killers. - How does this part of the speech affect the crowd?
It makes the people feel guilt and sadness for not mourning Caesar. Antony’s words make them rethink everything they believed before, pushing them toward anger against Brutus and the conspirators.
