Moving People

One of the best examples of moving a set of people or crowd was learnt by me during my Julius Ceasar's class. Our professor used to dramatise the entire Mark Antony funeral speech of Ceasar and I was so moved by the power of Anotny 's oration as written by Shakespeare. I used this verse for a declamation contest and won a prize for the same.


After many years now, I had to chance upon this video and was surprised to find out that what I had visualised in mind was nearly the same as to what is portrayed in this video.


I really would say that this is one of the best examples which we can use to turn a disadvantageous situation to that of an advantage. You will need to see this video fully to really appreciate the power of oration and the use of Rhetorics in speech.


It is said that Brutus was a better orator than Mark Antony yet Mark Antony won over the people with this speech because of three reasons:
1. He allowed Brutus to speak first
2. He spoke in verse while Brutus spoke in plain language
3. He used rhetorics while Brutus did not use the same.


" And yet Brutus is an honourable man" so infuriated the mob that they went baying for his blood. Mark Antony then times the reading of the will till the end and makes people to have a lagniappe by announcing the bonanza in Ceasar's will at the end.


Rosuing of people's passion - " here was a Ceasar and when comes such another ?.... Never Never" ultimate turning around of people accomplished. I would use this anyday to drive home the power of conviction and passion in one's belief. A Classic masterpiece.


This classical piece shows how one invidual with faith in himself can overturn a set of events to his advantage even though you might be at an absymal level of despair.


Do we draw lessons for us from this? Definitely yes. What to do we draw from this speech - one of my favourites:

1. Conviction
2. Passion
3. Clarity in thought
4. Fearlessness
5. Ability to use trump cards ( Ceasar's will)
6. Using judgement to step on the pedal ( Antony's review of public comments in between his speech by pausing and waiting for people's comments).


Excellent video to learn from. Happy viewing and learning.


Chennai
12/01/08