Dramatic Irony / Figure it out

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows more than the character on stage at that moment in time. In Anthony’s soliloquy we know he won’t lie because he is by himself and he won’t try to cover up the truth. This is when he expresses his deep emotions and feelings about the death of Caesar. The audience know that it was the conspirators, lead by Cassius, who killed Caesar. However Anthony is unaware of the situation.

Brutus acts arrogantly and overconfident towards Anthony by saying ” You will speak at Caesars funeral under our permission”. This shows he is assured that Anthony will speak good thoughts at the funeral. On the day of the funeral Anthony unleashed his wrath by telling the people of Rome “But we’re I Brutus, And Brutus Anthony, there were an Antony Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue in every wound of Caesar, that should move The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny”.

Due to Brutus undermining Anthony it made Anthony act the way he did at the funeral. The audience already knew that Anthony was going to show the actions he did due to the signs throughout  Act 3 Scene 2, “O,pardon,me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!” Such as Brutus acting towards Anthony like he was a lower class peasant. Also when Anthony saw the body of Caeser, the conspirators were proud and filled with joy after the objective was complete and successful. We also know that Anthony is going to get revenge at the funeral because he tells us. “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now”.