- They are the turning point in the fortunes of the conspirators: by the end of Scene 2, Brutus and Cassius have fled Rome.
- They show the power of oratory — words, not swords, decide who rules Rome.
- They show the fickleness of the crowd: the people cheer Brutus, then want to burn his house within minutes.
- They show Antony at his most brilliant and most ruthless ("Mischief, thou art afoot").
- They show the cost of political violence: the innocent Cinna is killed only for his name.
Worked examples
Example 1 (short answer, 3 marks). Why are Scenes 2 and 3 a turning point in the fortunes of the conspirators?
Model answer. Before the speeches, Brutus and Cassius are respected leaders whom the crowd cheers. After Antony speaks, the people turn on them and burn their houses. Brutus and Cassius flee Rome "like madmen" and Octavius and Lepidus join Antony. The conspirators have lost the city.
Why this scores: the situation before (1 mark), the change brought by Antony's speech (1 mark), the result (1 mark).
Example 2 (personal response, 4 marks). What does the play suggest about the power of words?
Model answer. The play shows that words can be more powerful than swords. The conspirators killed Caesar with daggers, but Antony destroys them with a speech. His words turn a cheering crowd into a mob within minutes. But the play also warns that such power is dangerous: the same words lead to the murder of an innocent poet.
Why this scores: a clear view (1 mark), the example of Antony (1 mark), the speed of the change (1 mark), the warning (1 mark).
Example 3 (MCQ with a twist, 1 mark). Which of the following is NOT a result of Antony's funeral speech? (a) The crowd turns against the conspirators (b) The houses of the conspirators are attacked (c) Brutus is made the new Caesar (d) Brutus and Cassius flee Rome.
Solution. (c). The crowd wants to make Brutus Caesar before Antony speaks, not after. Note the word NOT.
Doubts cleared
Q. Is Antony a hero? He is loyal and brave, but also ruthless: "Mischief, thou art afoot" shows he is ready to let violence run. The play lets you admire his skill and be uneasy about his method.
Q. Who is to blame for the riot? Both Antony, who sets it loose, and the citizens, who lose their judgement. Brutus also shares the blame for giving Antony the chance.
Q. What happens next in the play? Brutus and Cassius have fled, Antony, Octavius and Lepidus join forces, and civil war follows. This is the world of Acts IV and V.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing that the crowd was always on Antony's side. It was hostile at first.
- Treating the Cinna scene as a mere extra. Examiners expect you to say that it shows the cost of violence.
Check yourself
- What does Antony do when he is left alone in Scene 2?
- Who has arrived in Rome at the end of Scene 2?
- What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
Answers: 1. He says, "Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot." 2. Octavius, with Lepidus. 3. They ride out of Rome like madmen.