The cloak that covers Caesar's body assumes dramatic and powerful connotations in Antony's very carefully constructed funeral oration. Antony speaks at length from a raised platform, Caesar's body stationed below him. When the time is right, he moves down to Caesar's body and assumes a tone filled with memory and loss. He points out the cloak and speaks of the time when Caesar first wore it, on a summer night after Caesar had defeated one of Rome's enemies. Masterful. In doing these things, Antony has directed the crowd to look at Caesar's body, has played upon their emotions as Antony remembers a good time with his friend, and has reminded the crowd that Caesar was a victorious defender of Rome.
Once the crowd's attention has been directed to thecloak, Antony points out the various blood-stained tears in it where the conspirators' daggers had struck so violently. Now he has reminded them of the specifics of Caesar's brutal murder, making them imagine or relive the assassination as it took place. He also manages to work in the names of Cassius, Casca, and Brutus, thus identifying them personally as murders. During this recitation, his tone changes from gentle mourning to terrible outrage.
When he reaches an emotional crescendo and the crowd is deeply moved, Antony then dramatically pulls away the cloak to reveal Caesar's mutilated body. Antony's timing is deliberate and masterful. He uses Caesar's cloak, and then his body, as props in his funeral oration designed to sway the crowd against Brutus and the conspirators. He succeeds brilliantly, and civil war begins in Rome.
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