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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 3Scene 1
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"the son of Caesar"
Irony
Act 3,
Scene 1
Lines 219-227a

An explanation of the irony in the phrase “the son of Caesar” in Act 3, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Antony

Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Sway'd from the point by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all, and love you all,
Upon this hope: that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.

Brutus

Or else were this a savage spectacle.
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

Brutus declares that his reasons for killing Caesar are so convincing that they would convince even the son of Caesar — an ironic claim, coming from someone could quite possibly be Caesar's biological son.