28 de octubre de 2008

Julius Caesar (Act III,scene I), Shakespeare

Watch the YouTube video

ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
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.
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?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

92 comentarios:

Anónimo dijo...

This is one of Shakespeare´s best known speeches! We´ve thought that anyone with a good level of English should read and understand it using the language it was written in. We´ve asked Michelle to do a link for us with a video.
What do you think about it? Read the play even if you do it in Spanish!!

Anónimo dijo...

I’ve read the text. I must confess I didn’t know it. I’ve enjoyed it very much. Antonio is a friend and speaks like that. I particularly like the way in which he defends Cesar without telling Brutus is a liar, on the contrary, he says he’s an honourable man. Little by little Antonio takes apart the argument of Brutus but without attack him or even without disapproving what he says. Antonio doesn’t argue, he only tells the truth: “What he knows” and by this means is able to ask others, who also know the same as he does, why they are so little respectful and aren’t mourning him. It’s not Brutus that he accuses, but those who having loved Cesar once because his good deeds seem to have forgotten what he did and don’t honour him as he deserves.
Antonio praises his friend but he doesn’t make new enemy. Very wise. I wish I knew to do the same!
The repetition Shakespeare does of the verses
Brutus says he was ambitious
And Brutus is an honourable man
Gives the text a great strength and is very beautiful, is as the refrain in a song, capture your attention and makes easier to follow Antonio’s speech.

Anónimo dijo...

I have noticed that Shakespeare is a genius because he knows when to turn a beautiful phrase and when to speak plainly. At first sight, Anthony's speech sounds more familiar to "contemporary ears", don´t you think? However, I have to read it again and again.

Anónimo dijo...

Marvellous! I am looking forward to read it completely,though I do not dare to do it in English.

I love the following quote: "The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones."

I wish I could spend my whole life just reading and studying Master Shakespeare.

Anónimo dijo...

This speech is marvelous, it is studied as an example of rhetoric, and like many other Shakespearean speeches, it starts simply with no indication whatsoever of what it is going to turn into.
It is not complete, so do as Roberto and try to read it all, you will see why it is so good.
I love it

Anónimo dijo...

Was Caesar ambitious? is Brutus and honorable man? I think that Antonio is saying quite the opposite. Now that Caeser is dead it isn’t convenient having Brutus as enemy, so he praises Brutus athough he really wants to praise Caesar

Anónimo dijo...

well Marta, if you think it is not complete perhaps you could supply the rest?
Roberto you´ve picked up a really interesting sentence I also love it because it is so true!!
Paloma what a good post! very interesting analysis.
María Shakespeare is a genius, indeed, he is the one that describes and explains human nature most clearly and relevantly to us.
Cristina, Athony is Caesar´s friend, of course.

Anónimo dijo...

The more I read about the play, the more I like it. I would be able to talk about many things, but I have to talk only about honor, which is difficult without knowing more and more about the characters or about the whole story, don´t you think? I have to think about that. Which I wanted to say is that Shakespeare´s irony is fantastic! Brutus, an honourable man? Not at all!

Anónimo dijo...

These are the quotes posted in Jane Eyre's section:

"The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is, actually, to be what we would appear to be."
-Socrates


"But why should honor outlive honesty?
Let it all go."
- William Shakespeare. Othello, act 5, sc. 2, l. 245-6. Having lost his integrity (”honesty”) he no longer sees a need to maintain his reputation (as a warrior).

“As to honour—you know—it’s a very fine mediaeval inheritance which women never got hold of. It wasn’t theirs.”
- Joseph Conrad (1857–1924). t. Marlow, in Chance, ch. 2 (1914).

“An honorable murderer, if you will,
For naught I did in hate, but all in honor.”
- William Shakespeare. Othello, act 5, sc. 2, l. 294-5. “In honor” means from a sense of integrity, supposing it to be the right thing to do.

“By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
...
But if it be a sin to covet honor
I am the most offending soul alive.”
- William Shakespeare. King Henry, in Henry V, act 4, sc. 3, l. 24, 28-9. Before the battle of Agincourt.


“Great men’s honor ought always to be measured by the methods they made use of in attaining it.”
- François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680), French writer, moralist. repr. F.A. Stokes Co., New York (c. 1930). Moral Maxims and Reflections.

Anónimo dijo...

I could read a quick review of the plot of Julius Caesar including every important action in the play this weekend, a useful introduction before reading the original text.

It seems that this paragraph is better known as the “Friends, Romans, Countrymen”speech which is delivered right after the assassination of Julius Caesar, and is the second memorial speech spoken to the Roman plebeians, Brutus´being the first, follow by Mark Anthony´s speech.

What does Mark Anthony expect in this second speech when he repeats “Brutus is an honorable man” so many times? I think I know it but I will write it down tomorrow after my class.

Anónimo dijo...

Have you seen the videos? Do you like how Brando does it? There are quite a lot and some good passages from a film please take a look it´s good practice.

Anónimo dijo...

In Seventeenth Century, Spanish society had three fundamental values: Christianity, service to the king and honour. It is shown in those verses of Pedro Crespo ("El Alcalde de Zalamea", Calderón de la Barca):
"Al Rey la hacienda y la vida
se ha de dar; pero el honor
es patrimonio del alma,
y el alma es sólo de Dios."

Anónimo dijo...

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.


These lines indicate that if Antony was speaking about Caesar´s death was by Brutus´ permission. Brutus had spoken to the crowd explaining “his reasons” for having killed Caesar. What Brutus, unfortunately for him, didn´t imagine was that Antony was going to persuade to every roman was listening to him.

Antony repeats in the whole speech the sentence “honourable man”, it being an unflattering refrain and a very good practise of irony, which also gives a nimble rhythm. Supposedly, Caesar was killed in favour of the general good. Brutus said Caesar was ambitious and the best he could do was to kill him, which is “an honourable fact”: to work for the public good, and no one´s own personal interests. That´s why Antony repeats “for Brutus is an honourable man”, meaning that what he had done, was good to Roman people. However, Antony, of course, disagreed, and showed this disagreement using the irony.

The difference between Brutus and Antony´s speech is that Brutus spoke in order to give Roman people the reasons why he had killed Caesar. Otherwise, Antony was a Caesar´s friend and he hadn´t to justify any action. He only “went to speak in Caesar´s funeral”, by recalling their friendship. Moreover, to say this could mean that Brutus wasn´t a Caesar´s friend as Antony was. I think that “He was my friend, faithful and just to me; but Brutus says he was ambitious” could mean: “As I was his friend I am entitled to speak about him, because it is me and not Brutus who really knew him, so, listen to me”.

From then on, Antony expressed openly his disagreement with Brutus when asking “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” or “was this ambition?”, but always put in the unflattering refrains. Antony was as sharp as a needle and got what he wanted: to persuade every Roman and to make them remember how much Caesar had loved them and how many good things he had done.

Writing such a masterpiece of the Rethoric, Shakespeare would have been a very good politician, with a great power of conviction, an orator as Greek and Roman people were.

Marlon Brando is marvellous and to listen to the tone has helped me to understand better this wonderful speech.

Anónimo dijo...

I liked the speech very much. Gradually, I am discovering the genious that Shakespeare was. I completely agree with Maria´s analysis. As Marc Anthony knows that Caesar has been betrayed, he is the most affected because of his assassination. He is his only real friend and I think he is terribly sorry for having done nothing to avoid his death. Now, he is going to seek revenge but he has to be careful. However, he knows that Romans love and respect him and they are going to listen what he says. Naturaly, he is taking advantage of it.

Anónimo dijo...

I agree with María and I would like to add something else.

Cassius, one of the original conspirators against Caesar, manipulates Brutus to his cause by appealing to Brutus´sense of civic duty which believes that Caesar as a king would be bad for the people of Rome, Cassius fears what life under King Caesar´s rule could mean for him and the priviliges he had.

Brutus agrees to kill Caeser only because Cassius convinces him that it must be done. However, Brutus is presented as a loyal companion to Caesar showing himself as honourable only to turn around and betray his friend by death. This to me does not sound like the act of an honourable man.

After Caesar is assesinated in the Senate, Brutus enters the Forum and explains the plebeians his actions as being for the good of Rome. Then, Anthony ascends to the pupil while the plebeians discuss what they have heard.Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) delivers his speech, which turns the Romans against Brutus.

In Shakespeare´s Julius Caesar, Brutus might look good on the outside, but if his heart is exposed, he may not look as perfect as thought.

Brutus is a perfect example of this idea. He is sympathetic, kind and generous but when his motives are questioned, he does not look so sensitive. Brutus is not an honourable man. Brutus was a very selfish and self-centred person. He continually ignored Cassius´and the conspirators´ idea.

Antony’s speech is a rhetorical tour de force. He speaks in verse and repeats again and again that Brutus and the conspirators are honorable men; the phrase “Brutus says he was ambitious, / and Brutus is an honourable man” accrues new levels of sarcasm at each repetition.

Someone who kills one of his own because he was persuaded to by the thoughts and ideas of others is easily manipulated and therefore cannot be thought of as honourable.

Brutus, an honourable conspirator? Honourable is defined as genuine, truthful and displaying integrity while a conspirator is defined as one that engages in an agreement to commit an illegal or wrongful a ct.

Anyone can clearly see that these two words do not belong together.

Anónimo dijo...

paloma dijo...

El honor sigue a la virtud como la sombre al cuerpo.Fray Luís de León

elena gallego dijo...

Aseméjase el honor a la pintura al pastel, que no puede sufrir el menor roce sin deteriorarse. Ramón y Cajal

Susana 5c dijo...

Te juegas la vida por la honra. . . Juégate la honra por el alma.

ESCRIVÁ de BALAGUER, Beato José María

Anónimo dijo...

Barack Obama: 'A new dawn of American leadership':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2008/nov/05/president-barack-obama-victory-speech

That´s his first speech after being elected US president, but is this the one which Carmen wants us to listen to? Carmen?

Anónimo dijo...

Susan, I´ve liked your analysis very much! This extract is wonderful, indeed. Thanks Carmen for showing it. With this kind of interesting subject it is marvellous to speak, read, write and think in English. We are motivated again.

Anónimo dijo...

Than you María for the link. I have just listened to it, it being easy to understand.

I hope he should be able to lead US to the aims he wishes to achieve.

Anónimo dijo...

I´m absolutely IMPRESSED by María and Susan. well done with your analysis, very well written and expressed. Yes, I think that this sort of activity is much better and draws you nearer to the language because you see the beauty of it. Noemí it is so good that you are beginnig to understand how great Shakespeare is!! think that you are reading him in English! María thanks for the address. It is and, as Roberto says quite easy to follow. yes we hope that Obama can carry out what he intends, he speaks clearly and it appears that he wants to better things. Now let´s see if they allow him, or if he resists corruption, there is something in power that rots the human heart.
Brutus, as Susan says was not honourable, if he were he not have been convinced. We have a quote to this effect in the hand out I gave you, find it.
By the way my brother has given me this address about the election www.elccionesusa-uem.com I hope I´ve got it right. Impossible to post like Michelle does, sorry you know that computers are not my forte.

Anónimo dijo...

Susan, how beautiful post! In my view you have hit the nail on the head when you defines “Honourable conspirator” Maria and you have done so good analysis that very little can already be said about this speech. It’s a great pleasure to be your mate and have the opportunity to learn so much.

Anónimo dijo...

I’ve been reading Obama’s first speech and I’ve found a host of things that could be commented. But there is something which has drawn my attention specially: the tremendous respect he shows for his “enemy” and his huge capacity to turn him into an ally:
“Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they’ve achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.”
“Let’s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.
Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress”
Can you imagine, only for a single minute, any Spanish politician saying something like that?
I cannot.
And now, I would like to ask you, all of you, something: Are we, the Spanish, able to speak this way about our competitors? Are we able to recognise the merits of those who are against us whatever the reason but mainly in politics? Honestly, I think not.
Countries are said to have the government they deserve

Anónimo dijo...

Paloma, if we considere “the envy” as our deadly sin, this could explain why most of the time we used to criticize instead of congratulate “our competitors or not” sincerely. Obviously, Obama gave us a lesson of democracy but also of education.

In my opinion, eloquent, intelligent and courageous was the Obama´s first speech, it does not surprise me that he made an amazing discourse. Apart from his politician career, Obama is a talented writer, lyrical speaker and an excellent communicator, he is a true intellectual. In his speech, Obama had achieved to be concise without any pretentions.

His speech could be divided in seven main issues:

when he explaines the change has come to America.
when he congratulates his opponents and thanks his partners and family for their support.
how he admits that the victory belongs to the electors.
when he presents the task ahead.
when he puts forward his opinion about America in the world and the union of Americans as one nation.
when he reminds us a history of struggle. (It is a very emotional part).
and finally, he reminds that they achieved it and how this is their moment.

But I want to emphasize the long-awaited and indispensable change, this change is a hope for America and for all the countries. So it is worth remembering that Obama will not only be the “first African-American president”, but the first Northern Democrat to serve in the White House since Kennedy.

In conclusion, with the election of a black president, what many considered the politically impossible has now become real, a dream come true.

Anónimo dijo...

Read both María and Susana’s post, scarcely do I dare to add anything else related to this fascinating quote of Master Shakespeare’s. As Susana says, the speech is remarkably sarcastic, Anthony being quite clever, for he prefers not to be tempted by provocation, not using the same mischievous tricks as Brutus does. I agree with you María concerning Brando’s performance, it gives the text “real meaning”.

Anyway, I have already bought the play (in Spanish) and I long to find out more about such a conspiracy.

Anónimo dijo...

Susan, I absolutely agree with you.

Both Obama and McCain must have read this speech, Rethoric speech. Undoubtedly, American politicians are better than ours, Paloma. In Spain, we prefer to undervalue our oponents; doing the opposite would be unthinkable. Both Obama and McCain praise each other and take into account their shared love for US and their wanting the best for its development. ZP and Rajoy must learn of them. However, as Shakespeare said: "Words are nice; actions are better".

The other day I read this Laurence Olivier´s sentence which I liked so much: "What is acting but lying and what is good lying but convincing lying?" Couldn´t this be the slogan of orators, even of politicians?

Anónimo dijo...

Hello! It is the first time I write in this blog, and in my opinion this speech is brilliant! It is even better if you watch the video starred by Brando. He shows how to express hatred in a sarcastic way, and it is, by far, much more emotional than in the spanish version.

It would be nice if spanish politicians knew how to convince this way!

Anónimo dijo...

Hello! It is the first time I write in this blog, and in my opinion this speech is brilliant! It is even better if you watch the video starred by Brando. He shows how to express hatred in a sarcastic way, and it is, by far, much more emotional than in the spanish version.

It would be nice if spanish politicians knew how to convince this way!

Anónimo dijo...

Have a look!! Someone else has seen the connection between Shakespeare and Obama, a Democratic someone as you´ll see!!

John McCain served his country in War and Senate; yes, John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain stood up for campaign finance reform; yes, John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain embraced the Karl Roves of the Bush administration, the men who slandered him and his family; for John McCain is a honorable man.

John McCain supported the Iraq war, told us we would be greeted as liberators, perpetuated the inaccuracy of WMDs, and has failed to understand the difference between Sunni and Shiite, and is against any timetable for withdraw; but, John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain has changed his position on lobbyists, his top foreign policy advisor was a lobbyist until March for the country of Georgia, a major conflict of interest when forming a foreign policy, yet John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain’s promise of energy independence has been flushed away with his drill here, drill now policy; yet John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain promised run a positive campaign on issues, but now feels the need to attack my patriotism; John McCain is an honorable man.

John McCain has abandoned his economic principles and now is for Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, and tax cuts for the corporations that ship jobs overseas; yes, John McCain is an honorable man.

Senator McCain, I will not attack your service, but you have shown no honor by attacking mine. This election is about policy and our future. You have showed no respect to me or the American people with your consent distortions of the facts, your pandering to the extremes of your party, and your collusion with lobbyists and oil company. These are not the things of honor.

Anónimo dijo...

After listening Obama first speech, I have read it and what I liked most was the fact that he is able to sum up all big issues the nation is passing through and I am nearly sure he has obviated nothing. In addition, he focuses on middle class who really are The United States of America. However, I am afraid there many conflicts under surface making his wishes be rather difficult to achieve.

Anyway, he made people move on.

María, what a coincidence! How did you find it?

Anónimo dijo...

I have seen the movie by Joseph Manckiewicz. It´s great.

Anónimo dijo...

I think the reaction of the people will be to feel ashamed

Anónimo dijo...

It is a incredible speech, very clever. I love the way he attacks Brutus, is so delicate but strong.

Antonio
3º B

Anónimo dijo...

That is not the first play I have read from Shakespeare, but I didn't know this speech! However, I had not read his works in English before.
I think Antony makes a very, very good argumentation, increasing in each paragraph the tension between what he is saying about Ceasar and the (still) "honorable" Brutus. But I'm not sure about the mob understanding it... Let see it now!

Ana 3B

Anónimo dijo...

I think that after this speech from M.Antonio the people get angry with Brutus.
I´ve never read this play, but I´ve enjoyed it.
María del Campo García.Intermediate-2-B

Anónimo dijo...

I like very much Sakespeare, I want to read Julius Caesar, even if it is in Spanish

Anónimo dijo...

I think it is a good speach.
It has sentiment and pain.
when you listen to it your heart is touched.

Anónimo dijo...

Iam Susan a students of 3ºB. It´s my second reding of Shakespere. The first time I red Summer Night Dream's. I like this speech more than any other of the Summer Night Dream. I think it is very intelligent and I love how the author use the ironic sometimes to speak about the Brutus' honor.

Anónimo dijo...

I think this is a very intelligent speech.It is a particular and ironic way of telling people about what Brutus has done and how he really is.
Probably, at least , people will agree with Antony.

Anónimo dijo...

Well, I have read Shakespeare in Spanish, but I have never read him in English!

Is an amazing speech which shows us the ambitious of Brutus in opposite with Caesar´s honour.

Miguel 3ºB

Anónimo dijo...

Well, I have read Shakespeare in Spanish, but I have never read him in English!

Is an amazing speech which shows us the ambitious of Brutus in opposite with Caesar´s honour.

Miguel 3ºB

Anónimo dijo...

It's the first time I have read William Shakespeare. Of course I liked it, it's a good politic specheer.
His way of writing is very interesting but very difficult to understand it because he used to use a clasical language.

Anónimo dijo...

This is a very intelligent speech which shows how easy is for Shakespeare to address people.
In my opinion Shakespeare is to the English, like Greek and Latin culture has been to Europe, the origin.
I want to read Shakespeare in English, I know is difficult, but is the challenge everyone of us must achieve!

Anónimo dijo...

I am Ana of 3º B.
For me is the first time that i read Shakeaspeare. first of all i don't understand very well, because i don't like the poetry, and for this reason i don't read anything.
But in class, i understand step to step, what Shakeasperre try to say.

Anónimo dijo...

I've read the text and I've enjoyed it to much.
I think the romans didn't understand what Antony had said at all, because he is saying Brutus is an honourable man, but he thinks he is a bad person. He is very sutil.

Diego 3B

Anónimo dijo...

I love the way W. Shakespeare used irony to speak about Brutus' honour. He wrote in a particular, ironic way in order that he could tell people what Brutus had done, and what he really was like.

Anónimo dijo...

I have been reading Mr. Obama’s Acceptance Speech and I want to talk about the vocabulary. In my opinion, it is so basic that makes the speech very clear and easy to understand it, what gives me to think it has been written for everybody, as in the USA there are people from all over the World.

One of the most important things in his speech is that the first thing he does is to thank those people who have spent their time in a file, waiting for more than three hours, to vote. Things like that and others such as he doesn’t criticize his contrary, make his speech exemplar. So our politicians should learn of him.

Anónimo dijo...

Very interesting your comment about Sheakespeare-Obama!!.

Many thanks María!!, you always make the difference.

Anónimo dijo...

How did the fourths find the speech? I wonder if Clara is one. The speech is a masterpiece and I hope that all appreciated it as that.
Clara is right, the speech is an example for our politicians especially, here nobody loses the eleccions everybody wins, we don´t have Mackaine´s but it was better.
Please let´s have some comments about your experience with Shakesperare.

Anónimo dijo...

Many comments! We have picked up the meaning of the speech, the irony. Isn´t it marvellous? Who would have thought we were to understand a Shakespeare extract time ago? I wouldn´t. Anyway, this is easier to understand than To be or not to be, for instance...
Roberto, I found it in a Blog of a Democratic boy the day before elections. What a coincidence! Susan, you are very nice!

Anónimo dijo...

MAR. Avanzado 1

Yesterday we had English classes with Marta, She read and re-read Antony´s speech for us and also She made a deep analysis of each sentence -thinking about the English lenguage- which was wonderful for us, at least for me, in order to improve our pronunciation and our knowledges in English. Obviously we also put in common our different points of views, for me it was very interesting.

A would like to say my opinion about the speech, I told it to my classmate yesterday, sorry so, but as in this blog there are more student I would like to share my opinion with all of you.

I particulary love the way in which Antony is able to turn the word honorable around to in fact mean dishonorable. He manipulates the crowd provoking their rage against the assessins. He turns public opinion against Brutus.

Anónimo dijo...

MAR. Avanzado 1

Yesterday we had English classes with Marta, She read and re-read Antony´s speech for us and also She made a deep analysis of each sentence -thinking about the English lenguage- which was wonderful for us, at least for me, in order to improve our pronunciation and our knowledges in English. Obviously we also put in common our different points of views, for me it was very interesting.

A would like to say my opinion about the speech, I told it to my classmate yesterday, sorry so, but as in this blog there are more student I would like to share my opinion with all of you.

I particulary love the way in which Antony is able to turn the word honorable around to in fact mean dishonorable. He manipulates the crowd provoking their rage against the assessins. He turns public opinion against Brutus.

Anónimo dijo...

Sorry my comment appears twice, because I tought I have had problems with my computer. Sorry!!!

Anónimo dijo...

I made a mistake:
... because I tought I had had ...

sorry again!

Anónimo dijo...

Well, welcome to the fourths, Marta´s, of course, at last int he blog!!
María, what a coincidence to find this speech!! it is wonderful, because it proves what I´ve always said and that is EVERYBODY READS SHAKESPEARE, and we too!!! Letitia, you will read Shakespeare in English if you want to do it, it´s very difficult and needs lots of woerk but your will is stronger than the difficulties before you, keep going.
I´ve also liked Susan´s synopsis of Obama´s acceptance speech, very clear. Paloma, very good point, I also said it;this is something that we Spaniards have to learn to do, appreciate and value what others, even if we do not share their ideas, have done. However I doubt it very much.
There are some comments posted by my thirds, quite a good effort, I hope that this helps them to become a little more familiar with the blog, do not get discouraged, thirds, if you think that the others are better than you, they are very good, particularly "my students", but they worked very hard last year and now they are reaping the benefits of study, as you will.

virginia intermed. 2ºB dijo...

I've been reading the first Obama's Speech, the one He spoke the night he won the elections.

He is the first black President and I think he faces up to courage. In his speech he appreciates all people that helped him and he has a special gratitud for his family. In his speech he wants a chance for America. He also demostrates respect for all the Republicans. He said he wanted to join the Democrats and the Republicans.

I think he has hard-work, caused by the financial world crisis and Irak war. But I hope he can carry out all the promizes, change the public health and be a good future for the world.

To sum up I think Mr. Obama can be a good President for America an for the world.

Anónimo dijo...

I have read/watched both speeches (Obama's and McCain's). Obama's is very well-structured and moving. I hope all this excitement will not be lost...

And McCain's surprised me indeed. It was... very emotional too. But I disagree with you about how different American politics are from Spaniards. In fact, I remember McCain not always being so honourable and polite as in his defeat-acceptance speech (as the democrat blogger sharply points out)... Thus in that he is as "human" as some Spaniards are! We, especially Spanish people tend to think that the grass is always greener elsewhere, don't we?

By the way, when commenting McCain's great speech, someone pointed out to me that he had to do it that way out of responsibility, to appease possibly violent-radical people. In fact, while pronouncing it, he had to calm his people down several times, when they were booing at each reference to Obama... He seems to feel really embarrassed at these points.

Anónimo dijo...

Hello,I would like to speak about Mr. Obama's speech, on the other hand, first of all and from my point of vew it is a human speech, he wants to give thanks to everybody as much politicians as the rest of citizen, he wants to show a family face, and modesty so he ask help for people, and it is very emotional when he speaks about the Ann Nixon. I think this is first chance in USA that people as Ann Nixon have be able to vote, I think ¡this is incredible¡
But, on the other hand, I seem it is a patriotism speach, it is so different for us,I belive we don't understand the same form that american people understand it, I think when the politicians use the word "patriotismo" they are buying to the people.By the way, today I have listened to very good news about the decisions of Mr. Oboma, he will take off the arms of Irak and he will closed Guantanamo.

Unknown dijo...

Hi Mates. A fourth is commenting here, therefore you have to consider yourselves really lucky, cause we study silently, even at class!! You should ask to Marta to realise of this fact!! She faces everyday with a deaf and dumb class!!...don't trust me..I was just kidding around..

Regarding Mark Anthony speech, from my point of view, the text is so clever, but I don't like Marlon Brando's performance, it's awful and boring. Yes, he's is so handsome, but there's no more, by the way he doesn't look as the sad man who is pretending to convice to Romans.

Well I will forgive him because it was a few years ago otherwise..

See you Mates!!

Anónimo dijo...

Sorry, I make mistakes, I should say:
he will take off the arms from Irak, and he will close Guatanamo.
And Sorry about any mistakes I may have made and I don't see. Thank.

Anónimo dijo...

Sorry, I make mistakes, I should say:
he will take off the arms from Irak, and he will close Guatanamo.
And Sorry about any mistakes I may have made and I don't see. Thank.

Anónimo dijo...

For me in general all the politicians speech are too much long and too much false...Obama thanks a lot of people and for me it is only a way of getting the simpathetic of people. They only promise things that never can make. For Obama I think he won´t see all the politic panoramic different when he finished his term
Julius Caesar´s speech is different because he was criticising the previously emperator and he was shouting to the people who were listening and they were angry. He wasn´t a polite person and Obama is the opposite.

Anónimo dijo...

Hi everybody!
I have seen the two videos and have read Obama's speech and I think that both praise their opponents. The difference between Obama and Ceasar is that the first one is more direct and the second one is ironic and repetitive. Ceasar is all the time talking about how honorable Brutus is.
It is related to the time that we live, we are more direct and less rhetorical.

Anónimo dijo...

I would like to say that I agree with Virginia. Obama in his sppech talk about the people who helps him and he has special gratitud for his family and his friend. He gives every American people to do something for America.
In spite the difficult moments we were living I think that Obama is going to be a good President or at least he try to do it.
María del Campo. Intermediate-2-B

Anónimo dijo...

In my own opinion, I do think both speeches, Obamas's and Antony's are really inspiring and loaded with energy and loyal words.

Obama praised his opponent and Antony did it as well.

Anónimo dijo...

Hello
This is my first comment here, so i'm sorry for the errors that i'm sure i'll do.
I can't understood very well Caesar's speach, but obama's one is quite clear, so this is the firts diference i've found ;-)
The second is the way they speak to the people. In Caesar's speach, Marlon Brando is very excited, but Obama is very calm, i almost can't see his hands in any moment...
And about the similarity between both speaches, i think it's the importance of the message. In Caesar's, the importance is the honor, that Brutus didn't have, and for Obama is the change that America has done in the elecctions. Both speaches repeat their messagess a lot of times...

Thank you!

Anónimo dijo...

I don't see any similarities between both speeches but I think that Obama and Anthony are able to catch the attention of their audiences, without insulting, with politeness (even when Anthony is being ironic!)... The Spanish politicians do just the same! (more irony!)

Anónimo dijo...

Well, I have listened Obama Speech and Antony Speech and in fact I'm not able to see any real similarities. Becuase, altough both speak about their oponents the way they speak about them are completly different.
Obama seems (and I supose he speaks truly) sincere and honest. He praises his oponent and only have good word for them. He tries to make a good atmosphere between them in order to achive good colaboration.
However Antony is full of irony. His speech hides a very bad opinion about Brutus. He praises him, but what he is showing that Brutus is not an honorable man. It's a very polite way to express that, but in fact Antony is demostrating two things: Brutus isn't honoarble and Caesar was not ambitious.

Anónimo dijo...

If we really want to know what the text means, we have to focus on the time when shakespeare wrote it, the social and political situation, not only on the text, because it is seated on roman age and it is not a historical text. It is trying to show an ethical behaviour and way of thinking, features that were not very common in that time....Just like obama in his speech, he was trying to give us some guidelines and thoughts about honourable behaviour in difficult time, like in time when white people were considered more important than black ant they had to fight for their rights...

Anónimo dijo...

I´ve really enjoyed the speech because I think that it´s very amazing and algo he is a good actor. He spoke sarcastically and this makes the text very interesting.

I think that this speech is similiar to the Obama´s speech because they were talking to a crowd (in different ways). The main difference is that Obama spoke more relaxed and he was very happy when he was speaking, quite the opposite of Antony, who was sad because of his friend´s death.
Antony was all the time saying that Brutus was an honourable man because the honour was very important in Roma. A honoric death took up an important part at this society where they always tried to live and to act like heros.

Anónimo dijo...

I´m going to talk about Obama´s speech. I think Obama is a charismatic person and really honorable from my point of view but the problem is that the speech is too superficial.
On the other hand I don´t undertand completely Julius Caesar´s speech because the vocabulary is difficult.About the speech I think Julius Caesar repeats in many occasions the word "HONORABLE". I suppose that in Julius Caesar time was incredibly important the honour because you could be killed for this reason.
Nowadays, the honour is important too and if you are a politician is much more important.
Bye

Anónimo dijo...

Two great politicians are tallking about very important ideas for them.Their language were very simple and warm.
They catch people attention.

Anónimo dijo...

It is the first time that I heard & read this Shakespeare Speech.I am interested in all kind of things that make me improve my English.Honestly for me the vocabulary is difficult, there are a lot of news word. But I hope to learn and use them.

I can`t see any important differences or similarity between Obama & Julius Caesar Speech.

The only similitary that I can note is the way that they speak, with different speed,stop,full stop...

In my opiniom Obama & Julious Ceasar are Ambitious and honourable men.

Anónimo dijo...

Hello!!
I think this text is really difficult to understand. Marc Antony is really ironic because he wants to crytizise Brutus in a polite way. He said Brutus was an honourable man, but it´s not true because he killed his friend Caesar. So he was angry also with people who wasn´t mourn his death.
In other way, Obama doesn´t critizise anyone and it´s easier to understand.
Both text have something in common: Obama and Antony praise their opponents.

Anónimo dijo...

The honour is very important in both espeachs, For Marco Antonio is a thing that through the time, for Obama is a thing nowadays.
Both speakers are very goods, end they can exited to population

Anónimo dijo...

Honor is a word with a big sense. What make an honorable man? Marc Anthony told that his friend Caesar was honorable because he refused the power and because he wasn´t ambitius. But nowadays nobody can say no to power, can´t they? Many of politicians who had a lot of power became corrut and bad people, but now we have a change, we have a different man who has promised change the things in the and try to overcome the challenges with a brave behaviour. I think Obama is an honorable man.

Anónimo dijo...

Hi guys these are Jesus Vega and Covadonga Pérez thinking about ...
It's important now a days to be honourable?
According to Marc Antony's speech a government has to be serious, responsible and specially honuorable because he needs to achieve people's confidence.
At the present time, Obama´s speech try to show an honuorable "president" who is able to direct the "empire" using his political tools. Obama convinces people showing his honuorable political programe.
Does it?

Anónimo dijo...

both are leaders with high charismatic influence. They are trying to keep the atention of the crowd, which are from different status. In both cases, the moment is very special, because a change in the goverment is going to happen, so it is time, for both leaders to thank and be proud.

Anónimo dijo...

Goodness me! I’ve been only a week abroad and a revolution has taken place in the blog! How many people! At last! Congratulations to the thirds you are doing it really well; you are, plainly, Carmen’s pupils. As María says I wouldn’t have been able to read Shakespeare, I mean, to understand him, in my third year. Of course, I wasn’t Carmen pupil at that time! Even worse, I was in That’s English! A piece of advice: keep posting, it’s the best way to improve not only your writing skills but also your vocabulary and, in general, your English.

Anónimo dijo...

Well!!!!! I´m so satisfied to see your response, you see, it´s not been that difficult, and I´ve seen your posts about Obama´s and Antony´s speeches everywhere, not only in this thread but also in the one about the elections and even in The Importance of Being Earnest.If you keep posting you´ll find out it´s a great tool to improve your writing skills.Shakespeare is not so difficult and yesterday most of you managed to grasp the essence of Antony´s speech, although you found Obama´s easier.

Anónimo dijo...

Congratulations to the 3rds for having read understood and comment the Antony´s fantastic oration to the Romans after Ceasar´s death.

Arantza dijo...

Marco Antonio shows in this speech that he is very clever because he obtains what he wanted without saying it directly.

Anónimo dijo...

Arancha I agree with you that is exactly what a good orator does: convince people through a fantastic use of his speech

Anónimo dijo...

great comments! well done particularly the thirds. the vocabulary is not difficult, it is the structure that puzzles you!

Anónimo dijo...

This speech demonstrates the power of the words.

Anónimo dijo...

Haven´t you realised that this fragment is one of the less commented in the blog?
Nobody has written about in since ten days ago. Will you be able to find any reason for it?
In my opinion, it´s because theré are more fresh things we can speak about, like books we are reading,films we can watch in English,...According it, a well known expression (at least in Spain) has come to my mind; the more things you have to do, the less the mre time you fidn to do it, so, why don´t we writte about all that appears in the blog? I Know it´s difficult, but, if we try doing it, we will be able to comment at least two plays more than if we hadn´t attempted it.

Anónimo dijo...

Sorry I wanted to mean the more time you will find.......................write

Anónimo dijo...

Rebeca that´s a good idea and that is ideal for your English learning process.
People don´t post here because we are doing something else. Now we have to post on the new one and then we will put up other things for you to post, ok?

marian dijo...

Hi, I'm a fourth one and this is my first time writing about Anthony's speech.
Not only have I read it in English, but also I have watched the video and I have read the complete version in Spanish too in order to understand it correctly.
I find it really interesting because it has made me look for some information about History in order to understand the global situation. I should recognize that I am so bad at History.
Well, the thing is that I find the speech difficult if you don't have a general idea of the situation that was taking place at that moment.
I think that it is marvellous the way Anthony says what he want to say without saying a bad word of any of the conspirators. He uses the word "honourable" referring to Brutus but he makes people understand the real meaning of his words saying it again and again and each time using a louder voice showing his anger and resentment. Anthony ensured that people take the decision he could not take, I mean, the crowd wanted to punish those who killed Julius Caesar.

marian dijo...

Hi again,
I think that I have some problems with the inversion in the expression "Not only...but also...". I use it very frequently but not properly. For example in my previous comment ;

It would be "Not only have I read it in English, but I have also watched the video" or maybe "Not only have I read it in English, but I also have watched the video" instead of "Not only have I read it in English, but also I have watched the video"

Please help me!thank you

Anónimo dijo...

I agree with you Marian, not only have you to speak correctly a language,but to know about the subjet too, in order to be able to understand the whole meaning. I belive this text shows us this idea.
Reading it in Spanish helped me too, but I suppose it would be better if I had tried to make it without looking for a Spanish version. However I belive it is a part of the English learhing process, don´t you think so?.

Rosa Intermediate II dijo...

I have the film by Manckievickz at home (on DVD), and I don´t like Marlon Brando, but in this film he was superb. I also recommend Cleopatra and All about Eve, made by the same director.

Anónimo dijo...

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