Politicians have to frame the conversation so that their version of the truth is the one people listen to. This is exactly what Brutus tries to do in his speech to the people. Like many politicians, Brutus is naïve and lets his preference for nobility lead to destruction. He is surrounded by advisers, but does not listen to them.
Brutus joins the cause after it has been established. He is its figurehead, but he wants to take actual control. Although most politicians these days do not murder their opposing politicians, there are smear campaigns and other methods of trying to destroy one’s opponents that are still used. Brutus and his associates did not agree with Caesar’s ways, and they felt that they could not defeat him through traditional political methods, so they killed him.
We do not learn exactly what methods the conspirators used against Caesar, but we know there were obviously two camps. Rome did not have political parties in the sense that we do today, but it had factions, and Brutus and Cassius belonged to one while Caesar and his supporters belonged to the other. You can see by Marullus and Flavius’s reactions to Caesar’s statues being decorated that politics were being played.
Caesar’s side used political maneuvers too. The presenting of the crown and Caesar’s refusal was clearly designed to pander to the people. They ate it up. It made them feel that Caesar was benevolent and did not seek to be king. To the Romans, there was nothing worse than a king. Caesar was well aware of this.
You can see politics at play in Brutus’s speech. Like many politicians, Brutus has advisers. Cassius recruited him and tries to convince him not to let Antony speak. Brutus feels that to hear him is to believe him, and thinks that he can convince the people if he goes first and Antony lets everyone know that he speaks with Brutus’s permission. He thinks it is a show of strength, but Antony turns it to his advantage.
Brutus speaks like most politicians when he discusses the assassination. He tries to evade responsibility, and convince the people that he did everything for their benefit. He intimates that anyone who does not agree with him would rather be a slave to Caesar than a free, patriotic Roman.
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. (Act 3, Scene 2)
Antony is a better politician than Brutus. Brutus tries to reason with the people, but Antony goes for their emotions. He does not praise Caesar, but points out that Caesar left everything to the Roman people in his will. He uses props like the will and the shroud to play on people’s grief and fear. He also turns Brutus’s speech against him, calling him and the others “honorable” in a completely sarcastic manner. It is pure theater, and the people eat it up.
Antony points out that Caesar refused the crown he was offered.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? (Act 3, Scene 2)
Like many politicians, Antony manipulates the truth for his own needs. He is just better at it than Brutus. Antony is not concerned with being noble. He only wants power. Brutus falls into the trap of many an idealistic politician. He assumes that everyone else will see his point of view because he has right on his side. It turns out that “right” is relative. Everyone has a different idea.
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