BRUTUS. Be patient till the last.

Question

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’ love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more.

ANTONY. 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 interrèd with their bones.
So let it be with Caesar. 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.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me.

How does Brutus’s reason for giving his monologue compare to Antony’s reason for giving his?

Both Brutus and Antony explain that they are there to discuss why Caesar’s death is the best thing for all of Rome.
Brutus explains that he wants to talk about the consipirators’ faults, while Antony says that he wants to talk about Caesar’s faults.
Both Brutus and Antony say that they feel compelled to speak about Caesar because they both loved him dearly and regret that he is dead.
Brutus announces that he wants to explain that he killed Caesar because he loved Rome, while Antony says that he has come to bury Caesar.

Answer 1

Brutus and Antony's speeches serve different purposes and reflect contrasting motivations regarding Caesar’s death and its implications for Rome.

1. Brutus’s Reasoning: Brutus addresses the crowd to justify his participation in Caesar's assassination. He emphasizes that his love for Rome overrides any personal feelings for Caesar, asserting that he acted for the greater good of the Republic. Brutus appeals to the values of honor and rationality, aiming to convince the citizens that his actions, though difficult, were necessary to prevent tyranny and protect their freedom. His main goal is to present himself and the conspirators as patriots.

2. Antony’s Reasoning: In contrast, Antony’s approach is more emotional and manipulative. He begins by stating that he comes to bury Caesar, not to praise him, and subtly undermines Brutus’s argument. He acknowledges that Brutus has called him an honorable man, but he repeatedly questions the justification for Caesar's assassination and highlights Caesar's virtues. Antony’s intent is to stir the emotions of the crowd and turn public opinion against the conspirators, ultimately seeking to avenge Caesar's death and incite rebellion.

In summary, while both men engage in public discourse about Caesar’s legacy following his death, Brutus seeks to rationalize his actions for the sake of Rome, whereas Antony aims to evoke emotion and sway the crowd to view Caesar as a victim, thereby rallying them against the conspirators.