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How would you write and deliver a speech as Portia to convince Brutus that you should run away from Rome together in order to survive if Julius...

For this assignment, you should focus on the aspects of Portia’s personality that Shakespeare introduces in the play and the information she would have had. Portia is passionate, resourceful, and a tiny bit crazy. She would definitely know what Antony said in his speech because she would have been listening. She would also know Antony condemned her husband and use this information to try to convince Brutus to leave with her.


Portia is Cato’s daughter, a fact she is proud of, and she loves her husband. Cato killed himself after being defeated by Caesar. This is not really discussed in the play, but Portia does mention Cato and you could use that.


Portia would do anything to protect Brutus and she can be pretty persuasive. She even says she will stab herself in the thigh to prove her loyalty to him.



Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound
Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience.
And not my husband's secrets (Act II, Scene 1)?



Portia is very dramatic. In your speech, you should make sure to use dramatic language. Portia will go to great lengths to get Brutus’s attention and prove she is with him. Portia is upset when her husband will not tell her what he is up to because she doesn’t like to be left in the dark.


After Caesar’s death, Brutus spoke to the people, followed by Antony. Antony was very critical of Brutus and the other conspirators. He uses sarcasm to tell the audience who is responsible for Caesar’s death.



O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men (Act III, Scene 2).



By the time Antony is done with his speech, the citizens are enraged and start to attack the conspirators and burn their homes. The conspirators would be best off to leave Rome. Portia could use Antony’s words to convince Brutus to flee since Antony named him several times.

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