![]() However, as it is, its meaning hasn’t changed from Mediaeval times. The word ‘havoc’ would probably be lost to us today if it hadn’t been for Shakespeare’s use of it – in fact, several times in his plays. Not only does it have Marc Antony find the precise way of expressing what he wants to say, but the combination of crying havoc and the visual image of attack dogs straining at their collars is just a perfect image, and it is no wonder that the line has taken its place as one of the top idioms in the English language. The image conjured in the line ‘Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war’ is one of Shakespeare’s finest poetic moments. ‘Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war’ speech analysis ![]() That this foul deed shall smell above the earth Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voiceĬry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war, Their infants quartered with the hands of war,Īll pity choked with custom of fell deeds,Īnd Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge, That mothers shall but smile when they behold To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue-Ī curse shall light upon the limbs of men.īlood and destruction shall be so in use, Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, ‘Cry Havoc’ speech, spoken by Antony, Act 3 Scene 1 ![]() He then invokes the image of a general crying havoc and releasing the dogs of war. He says that there is going to be a war the likes of which no-one has ever seen. He swears that he is going to get his revenge against the conspirators. While the conspirators are outside, addressing the people, Marc Antony is left alone with Caesar’s body. Marc Antony, another army general, is allowed to approach the body, and negotiates with the conspirators to allow his to make a speech to the people – as long as he promises not to say anything negative about them. The context of Marc Antony’s famous line comes when Julius Caesar lies dead, having been assassinated by a group of conspiratorial senators. Read Marc Antony’s ‘ Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war’ speech from Shakeseare’s Julius Caesar, with a modern English translation & analysis. Each Shakespeare’s play name links to a range of resources about each play: Character summaries, plot outlines, example essays and famous quotes, soliloquies and monologues: All’s Well That Ends Well Antony and Cleopatra As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cymbeline Hamlet Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry VIII Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry V Julius Caesar King John King Lear Loves Labour’s Lost Macbeth Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Othello Pericles Richard II Richard III Romeo & Juliet The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Troilus & Cressida Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Winter’s Tale This list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in alphabetical order. Plays It is believed that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total between 15.
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