Question

Read this passage: ANTONY: He was my friend, faithful and just to me: But Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable 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 honourable 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 honourable man. William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar In Act III, scene ii of Julius Caesar, how does Antony show the crowd that Brutus is not trustworthy?
A. By stating that Brutus was overly "ambitious"
B. By repeating the phrase, "he is an honourable man"
C. By declaring that Caesar was "faithful and just to me"
D. By saying that "the poor have cried" over Caesar's death

Answer 1

B. By repeating the phrase, "he is an honourable man"

By repeating the phrase “Brutus is an honourable man” and contrasting him to what Caesar had actually done, Antony successfully persuaded the audience that Brutus was not as trustworthy as he claimed to be. Brutus was mentioned as an honorable man thrice by Antony when he mentioned three instances in his speech about the reality of Caesar’s life and action. First, he said Caesar won many battles; second, he mourned with the poor; and third, he denied the offer of a kingly crown three times. These three arguments countered Brutus’ accusation that Caesar was ambitious and it was strong enough to prove that Brutus was not trustworthy.