Mark Antony’s Speech: Rethoric and the Performativity of Language

Authors

  • Irina-Alexa Banea I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania

Keywords:

rhetoric, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare, irony, rhetorical syllogism

Abstract

Rhetoric is word in action. Discourses cannot be dissociated from their intrinsic performativity as talking is intentional directed speech. When important state of affairs is at stake and political stability and decision depend upon the spoken word, the intention behind the utterance is carefully conveyed according to a set of rhetorical rules. In Shakespeare‟s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony‟s speech given at Caesar‟s funeral stands out as a discourse which proves the very means of rhetoric in the urgency of the moment. This article examines both the rhetorical strategies employed and their effects in the spider web of word, language, performance and action.

Author Biography

Irina-Alexa Banea, I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania

Irina Alexandra Banea graduated from theatre directing at UNATC. She subsequently pursued a master in theatre directing at University of Hull, UK where, having the chance to direct Troilus and Cressida by Shakespeare, she took a deep dive in the Shakespearean universe. She is currently embarked on a PhD. at UNATC with a thesis in Shakespeare and politics.

References

Austin, J.L. How to Do Things with Words, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1962

Burke, E., A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful, Oxford University Press, 1990

Cicero, Cicero, Philippics, 2.91

Herbert H. Clark, H.H. and Gerrig, R. Journal of Experimental

Psychology: General, Vol. 113, No.1, 1984

Shakespeare, W., Proudfoot, R., Thompson, A., Kastan, D. S., & Jenkins, H, The Arden Shakespeare complete works, Arden Shakespeare, London, 2001

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Published

2020-06-10

How to Cite

Banea, I.-A. (2020). Mark Antony’s Speech: Rethoric and the Performativity of Language. Doctoral Horizons, 1(1), 9–20. Retrieved from https://doctoral-horizons.unatcpress.ro/index.php/Journal/article/view/1

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2020): Doctoral Horizons

Section

Articles