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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 3Scene 2
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"wounds...mouths"
Language
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 208-222

An explanation of the metaphor comparing wounds to mouths in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Antony

I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
I am no orator, as Brutus is,
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech
To stir men's blood; I only speak right on.
I tell you that which you yourselves do know,
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

It was a common metaphor in medieval literature to compare gaping wounds to mouths. In this case, the mouths are dumb because they cannot speak—that is, until Antony "bid them speak for [him]."