Antony's frustration towards Caesar's death is clear and evident; consequently, he vows to avenge his loyal friend's brutal murder. Through the effective use of concrete, vivid, visual imagery, apostrophe, and foreshadowing in the form a prophecy, Antony predicts that the conspirators' murder of Caesar will cause chaos amongst Roman citizens and result in an upcoming civil war that is destructive in nature. Antony establishes concrete, vivid and visual imagery in his soliloquy. Evidence of blood imagery occurs when Antony becomes furious over the sight of Caesar's blood, as he says: "Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!" (258). This line reveals Antony's hatred towards blood, especially since it is Caesar's. The presence of blood angers him because the sight of it reminds him of Caesar's murderers, Brutus, Cassius, Casca and the rest of the conspirators. He does not think Caesar, an accomplished and well-respected man, deserves to die. Therefore, he accuses the conspirators of shedding the valuable blood of a prestigious man. Antony prophesies that Caesar's death will plunge Italy into chaos, which is an example of violent imagery. In fact, Italy will be chaotic to the point that: "The mothers shall but smile when they behold/ Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war." (267-8) This depicts how influential the war will be on Roman citizens because mothers are displaying inhumane emotions to the death of their children. If infants are literally being cut into four parts, it is outrageous for mothers to simply react with a smile on their face. This suggests that "Blood and destruction shall be so in use" (265). The Plebeiaes will be familiar with the idea of death to the point that it does not shock them at all if a mere infant dies. The use of blood and violent imagery definitely plays a role in confirming the prediction of a possible civil war.
