preview

How Did Death Judge Caesar's Death

Decent Essays

Caesar’s death divided the Roman Republic. Some citizens, like Brutus and Cassius, believed that Caesar’s death was for the good of the Republic. Other citizens, like Mark Antony, believed that Caesar had been murdered before he accomplished his greatest contributions to society. This difference in opinions, first expressed during the funeral orations for Caesar, spread throughout Roman society, leading to civil war and the end of the Republic. Hundreds of years later, Shakespeare dramatized the events around Caesar’s death. From his version of the funeral orations given by Brutus and Antony, and the response of the crowd to each, valuable lessons can be learned about persuading people. Brutus gave the first funeral oration for Caesar. As …show more content…

This time he appealed to the character of the people. Roman citizens at that time disliked unchecked ambition. They recognized the dangers of a ruler with excessive ambition. After all, the Roman Republic had been founded in response to the lustful and power-hungry ways in which the last Roman kings ruled (In fact, this negative feeling toward kings caused Octavius to choose the title of emperor instead of king to avoid repercussions). If Brutus could prove that Caesar had attempted to gain kingship of Rome, then many, if not all, of his audience would agree with him that Caesar‘s murder was a just and necessary act. To this end, Brutus repeatedly stated that he honored and loved Caesar (3.2.26-28 and 3.2.29-30), and that Caesar’s death was solely due to his ambition (3.2.28 and 3.2.30). Brutus went on to ask parallel rhetorical questions asking the people who was willing to give up their freedom so that Caesar could rule (3.2.30-36). Brutus wrapped up his oration by saying that death should be the punishment for anyone ambitious, even Brutus himself (3.2.38-39). This made it clear that Brutus acted not out of jealousy or conceit, but solely out of concern for the good of …show more content…

He brought up Caesar’s will, which he claimed to have found in Caesar’s closet (3.2.140-141). Instead of reading it right away, he delayed, increasing the suspense and the curiosity of the crowd. As part of the delay, he emphasized how Caesar had been traitorously murdered by his friend (3.2.181-208), which aroused pity in the minds of his listeners. After the crowd begged Antony to read Caesar’s will multiple times, he finally agreed. Antony read the will, which gave 75 drachmas (3.2.256) to each citizen as well as Caesar’s private walks arbors, and orchards to the enjoyment of the people (3.2.261-265). Antony knew that reading this will would inflame the desires and emotions of the people, who would feel that they had been robbed of a generous benefactor. In this way, Antony subtly undermined Brutus’ appeal to ethos and appealed to the desires and passions of his

Get Access