Was Marc Antony an opportunist who used the death of Caesar as an excuse for an advancement he did not deserve. I do believe that Marc Antony used the death Caesar as an excuse for an advancement he didn't deserve. I also believe that Antony was a loyal companion to Caesar, and wanted to avenge his death.
Marc Antony saw an opportunity to start where Caesar finished, and get the people of Rome on his side, and from that position he could move to a more powerful and respectable position. Since the people of Rome were already on Casear's side it didn't take much convincing on the part of Antony to get them on his side, using the death of Caesar, and feeding off the peoples' emotions.
There was little need for different things that Marc Antony did, but because he knew it would affect the crowds emotions more greatly, he did it. The people were the key to his sucess. As an example when he brought the body of Caesar onto the stage, it was really not needed, but because it would have more impact on the crowd he did.
In conclusion I think that what Marc Antony did was not so much trying to capitalize from ones loss, but just assuming responsability, and leadership where it was needed. Antony did not want to let Brutus take over Rome, and in the long run made him pay for not killing him when he had the chance.
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