Who Mark Antony is
Mark Antony belongs to Caesar's circle, where personal loyalty becomes entangled with the struggle over Rome's future. He is a sportsman as well as a speaker, and others mistake him for a careless reveller.
His skill with words gives that mistaken judgment weight beyond a simple misunderstanding of his character. In a play concerned with persuasion, Antony makes feeling an important part of public speech.
Mark Antony and the others in the story
Caesar's friendship with Antony matters to Cassius, who sees him as a danger to the conspiracy. Cassius wants the plot to target Antony too, because of his closeness to Caesar.
Marcus Brutus refuses, wanting their planned deed to remain a sacrifice rather than become a butchery. This disagreement reveals how differently the conspirators judge Antony before they fully understand his abilities.
A best-known line
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;”
Questions
Who is Mark Antony in Julius Caesar?
Mark Antony is a loyal companion of Caesar, a sportsman, and a talented public speaker.
Why does Cassius fear Mark Antony?
Cassius fears Antony because he is Caesar's close friend and may threaten the conspirators' plans.
How does Brutus underestimate Mark Antony?
Brutus does not share Cassius's concern about Antony and refuses to make him another target of the plot. The conspirators' view of him as a careless reveller misses his intelligence.