Read the excerpt below from act 3.2 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows. ANTONY: But Brutus say
s he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honorable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, . . . . Based on Mark Antony’s argument in the above speech, why does he repeat the line, “But Brutus says he was ambitious,/And Brutus is an honorable man”? Mark Antony repeats that line to support Brutus by giving examples that prove that Caesar was ambitious. Mark Antony repeats that line to discredit Brutus by giving examples that prove that Caesar was not ambitious. Mark Antony repeats that line to support Octavius as the rightful heir to Caesar’s position. Mark Antony repeats that line to encourage Brutus in becoming Caesar’s heir.
The correct answer is, "Mark Antony repeats that line to discredit Brutus by giving examples that prove that Caesar was not ambitious."
Anthony uses irony to point out that Caesar was not ambitious, despite Brutus saying he was. To better explain the excerpt, I summarized it in three parts:
Anthony states, "Brutus says Caesar was ambitious."
Anthony states that Brutus is an honorable man.
Anthony states reasons why Caesar was not ambitious, which contradicts the two previous statements.
