Question

analyzing how nuance affects meaning
antony. villains, you did not so, when your
vile daggers
hacked one another in the sides of caesar:
you showed your teeth like apes, and fawned
like hounds,
and bowed like bondmen, kissing caesar’s feet,
whilst damned casca, like a cur, behind,
struck caesar on the neck. o you flatterers!
—the tragedy of julius caesar,
william shakespeare
what is the meaning of this passage?
antony does not like flattery of any kind.
antony understands why caesar had to die.
antony shows contempt for cassius and brutus.

Explanation:

In the passage, Antony uses derogatory terms like "villains", "vile daggers", "apes", "hounds", "cur", and "flatterers" to describe Cassius, Brutus, and the others who killed Caesar. This shows his contempt for them. The first option is too general (the passage is about his contempt for these specific people, not all flattery), and the second option is incorrect as Antony is angry about Caesar's death, not understanding it.

Answer:

Antony shows contempt for Cassius and Brutus.