Pleasing Personality

(Observe how often Antony has repeated the term "honorable." Observe, also, how cleverly he brings in the first suggestion that, perhaps, Brutus and Cassius may not be as honorable as the Roman mob believes them to be.

This suggestion is carried in the words "mutiny" and "rage" which he here uses for the first time, after his pause gave him time to observe that the mob was swinging over toward his side of the argument.

Observe how carefully he is "feeling" his way and making his words fit that which he knows to be the frame of mind of his listeners.)

Antony: "I will not do them wrong; I rather choose To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men."

(Crystallizing his suggestion into hatred of Brutus and Cassius, he then appeals to their curiosity and begins to lay the foundation for his climax - a climax which he knows will win the mob because he is reaching it so cleverly that the mob believes it to be its own conclusion.)

Antony: "But here's a parchment, with the seal of Caesar; I found it in his closet; 'tis his will; Let but the commons hear this testament, Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read -"

(Tightening up on his appeal to their curiosity by making them believe he does not intend to read the will.)

"And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds And dip their napkins in his sacred blood, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, And, dying, mention it within their wills, Bequeathing it as a rich legacy Unto their issue."

(Human nature always wants that which is difficult to get, or that of which it is about to be deprived. Observe how craftily Antony has awakened the interest of the mob and made them want to hear the reading of the will, thereby preparing them to hear it with open minds. This marks his second step in the process of "neutralizing" their minds.)

All: "The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will."

Antony: "Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;

It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you. You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;

And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar, It will inflame you;

(Exactly what he wishes to do)

It will make you mad; 'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs, For if you should, O what will come of it!"

Fourth Citizen: "Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony: You shall read us the will; Caesar's will."

Antony: "Will you be patient?

Will you stay awhile?

I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it; I fear I wrong the honorable men Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar, I do fear it."

("Daggers" and "stabb'd" suggest cruel murder. Observe how cleverly Antony injects this suggestion into his speech, and observe, also, how quickly the mob catches its significance, because, unknown to the mob, Antony has carefully prepared their minds to receive this suggestion.)