Marc Antony: Furious, yet loyal

‘Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?’ As Caesar triumphed over Pompey, he had many supporters that followed him. However, among those many supporters, there was one man that would truly never leave his side. A man that would perform exactly as he was ordered. A friend. This man was Mark Antony. Antony had loved Caesar as a friend, and when Caesar was brutally murdered by the Conspirators, Antony was engulfed in anger. Antony’s goal of avenging Caesar’s death was driven by revenge and loyalty.

Antony’s motivation of revenge was triggered by the murder of Caesar. Throughout the play, Antony had followed Caesar and he had endless respect for him. When he died he desired nothing more than revenge against the Conspirators and to avenge the death of Caesar. ‘Domestic fury and fierce civil strife shall cumber all parts of Italy’. Antony’s formerly noble behavior was soon transformed into furiosity. At the corpse of Caesar, he had predicted that a civil war would break out in Rome, and that blood and destruction would be so in use, that people would dream of death. With those words he described how Rome would crumble without Caesar, and that he would take action against the Conspirators, and with that, he signifies his motivation of revenge. ‘Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war’. Many years ago, in a battle, the leader of the winning army would announce ‘cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war!’ Meaning, that his army would enter the city and steal it’s treasures for their benefit. As Antony describes that Caesar’s death would cause a civil war, he says that Caesar would return with the goddess of war and announce Cry havoc! Indicating that Caesar would return and haunt those that had killed him. Antony continues to show his motivation of revenge by listing the events that would occur in line after Caesar’s death. Antony’s furious motivation of revenge had signified not only his anger towards the Conspirators, but it also signifies his loyalty.

Despite the fact that the Conspirators had murdered Caesar, Antony remained loyal to Caesar by continuing to gain supporters for him. During Caesar’s reign, Antony had served him and respected him. After Caesar’s death, Antony showed no difference as he continued strong on Caesar’s side. His loyalty gave him a surge of confidence and leadership, as he became the main leader of Caesar’s side. ‘I shall remember; when Caesar says “do this”, it is performed’ In this quote, Antony shows his loyalty and his responsibility for Caesar. He also shows his respect as he said himself that he would do anything Caesar would ask him. This symbolizes his motivation of loyalty, because he indicates that he’d never leave his side, and he would perform what he is asked. When Caesar died, Antony was enraged, however he continued to remain loyal to Caesar by staying on his side. ‘O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers. Thou art the ruins of the noblest man’, Before stating this quote, Antony had engaged in conversation with the Conspirators, shaking each of their ‘bloody’ hands and asking to make peace. Once they had dispersed, Antony revealed his true feelings, and had apologized to Caesar’s spirit for being so friendly with his murderers. This symbolizes Antony’s loyalty to Caesar because despite the fact that Caesar’s dead, Antony persists on avenging his death and by taking action against the ‘butchers’. Throughout the play, Antony shows that he is a true noble Roman to Caesar, supported heavily by his strong loyalty.

When Caesar was murdered, Antony was furious at the Conspirators, and he desired their deaths, and to avenge the death of Caesar. His main motivators; revenge and loyalty, served him well, as they completely changed his personality from a regular noble Roman, to a leader. His anger and his loyalty gave him reasons and supporters, and by the end of the play he had finally achieved his goal of avenging Caesar’s death, as all of the Conspirators, including Cassius and Brutus had died. His goal was a noble one, as he attempted to bring justice to Caesar’s death, and he showed integrity as he never stopped in his goal, despite the many problems that encountered him along the way.