Act III, Scene 2 takes place in the Forum, the great public square of Rome, a few hours after the assassination. Two men speak to the same crowd about the same dead man. Brutus speaks first, in calm prose, appealing to the people's reason and to his own honour. The crowd cheers him and even wants to make him Caesar. Mark Antony speaks next, in passionate blank verse, appealing to the people's feelings and self-interest. By the end of his speech the same crowd is running through the streets with fire-brands to burn the houses of the conspirators.
Scene 3 is a short, terrible scene: the maddened mob meets an innocent poet who happens to be named Cinna, the same name as one of the conspirators, and tears him to pieces. The scenes show how easily a crowd can be swayed by words, and how quickly the "freedom" the conspirators promised turns into mob violence and civil war.
Foundation first
These two scenes are about persuasion. To read them well you need the ideas below.
The three ways to persuade. A speaker can ask an audience to trust him, to think, or to feel. Teachers use Greek names for these, and you may see them in notes.
| Way | Plain meaning | Who uses it most |
|---|---|---|
| Character (ethos) | "Trust me, because I am honourable" | Brutus: "believe me for mine honour" |
| Reason (logos) | proof and logical argument | Brutus gives a reason; Antony gives three pieces of evidence |
| Feeling (pathos) | pity, anger, love, self-interest | Antony: the cloak, the body, the will |
Prose and verse. Brutus speaks in prose (ordinary sentences). Antony speaks in blank verse (unrhymed lines of about ten syllables). The citizens, who are ordinary people, also speak in prose. Brutus's plain style suits his claim that he is reasonable; Antony's rhythm helps to move the feelings of the crowd.
The place and the people. The Forum is the great open square of Rome where citizens gather. The pulpit is the raised platform from which a speaker addresses them. The plebeians or citizens are the ordinary people of Rome. In this scene they are the audience, and they are also the judges.
Devices of a speech. You will need these words in almost every answer.
| Device | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rhetorical question | a question asked for effect, not for an answer | "Who is here so base that would be a bondman?" |
| Antithesis | two opposite ideas balanced against each other | "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" |
| Repetition | repeating a word or phrase to make it stick | "Brutus is an honourable man" |
| Verbal irony | saying one thing and meaning the opposite | "honourable men", said of the killers |
| Sarcasm | bitter irony meant to hurt | the last "honourable" in the speech |
| Pause | a deliberate silence to let the effect sink in | "I must pause till it come back to me" |
Quick check. Antony says "I am no orator, as Brutus is." Is it verbal irony? Answer: yes. He means the opposite, since he is the most skilful speaker in the play.
Worked examples
Example 1 (short answer, 2 marks). Where and when does Act III, Scene 2 take place, and who are the two speakers?
Model answer. The scene takes place in the Forum, the public square of Rome, in the hours after Caesar's murder on the Ides of March. The two speakers are Brutus, who speaks first, and Mark Antony, who speaks after him.
Why this scores: place and time (1 mark), both speakers in the right order (1 mark).
Example 2 (MCQ with a twist, 1 mark). Antony says, "I am no orator, as Brutus is." The device he is using is (a) hyperbole (b) verbal irony (c) simile (d) alliteration.
Solution. (b). He says the opposite of what is true, since he is an excellent orator. Hyperbole would be a simple exaggeration; there is no like or as comparison for a simile.
Example 3 (short answer, 3 marks). Name the three ways of persuading an audience and say which one Brutus uses most.
Model answer. A speaker can appeal to character (trust me), to reason (here is proof) or to feeling (pity, anger, self-interest). Brutus uses character and reason: he asks the people to believe him "for mine honour" and gives them an argument about Rome and freedom. Antony uses feeling.
Why this scores: the three ways (1 mark), Brutus's method named (1 mark), a quotation (1 mark).
Example 4 (short answer, 3 marks). Why does Brutus speak in prose and Antony in verse?
Model answer. Brutus speaks in plain prose because he wants to appear logical and honest, and he treats the speech as an argument. Antony's blank verse has a rhythm and a feeling that suit his appeal to pity and grief. The difference of style shows the difference in their methods.
Why this scores: a reason for each speaker (2 marks) and the link to their methods (1 mark). Compare ICSE 2026 Improvement, Q1(iv), where Brutus's speech is described as logical and well reasoned.
Doubts cleared
Q. Who are the "citizens" and why do they matter? They are the ordinary people of Rome. In these scenes they decide who wins, because Brutus and Antony both need their support. Listen for the different voices: First, Second, Third and Fourth Citizen.
Q. Why does the same crowd cheer Brutus and then hate him? They are moved by whoever spoke last and most strongly, not by any fixed idea. This is the main lesson of the scene about the power of words.
Q. What does "lend me your ears" mean? "Listen to me." It is not a request to borrow anything; it is a figure of speech.
Q. Is Antony lying? Not about the facts. The ransoms, the tears for the poor, the refused crown and the will are true within the play. His dishonesty is in his purpose: he says he has come to bury Caesar and not to praise him, but he praises him and turns the people to revenge.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying that Brutus speaks in verse. He speaks in prose; Antony speaks in verse.
- Calling Antony's repeated "honourable" simply a compliment. By the end it is sarcastic.
- Writing "the mob" for the citizens at the start of the scene. At first they are an audience that listens and compares; they become a mob only later.
Check yourself
- Where does Scene 2 take place?
- What is verbal irony? Give one example from Antony's speech.
- Which two ways of persuading does Brutus use?
Answers: 1. In the Forum in Rome. 2. Saying one thing while meaning the opposite; "Brutus is an honourable man". 3. Character and reason.