Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

Antony used the explicit gap in Brutus's speech to turn the people quickly against Brutus. Antony began his speech with a detached tone in lines 77 -79 of his speech by saying, "The evil men do lives after them, the good is oft entered with their bones; so let it be with Caesar." Antony wanted the people to believe he was impartial toward the situation, therefore, he would speak the truth. Antony put Brutus's honor in question by telling how Caesar did and gave so much to the people, and yet the honorable Brutus said he was ambitious. Antony reminded the people Caesar gave the ransom Caesar collected from prisoners he had captured for the public funds, and wept for his people, and how refused a kingly crown three times. On lines 113 - 115 a plebeian said, "Mark ye his word? He would not take the crown, therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious." showing the people

In Julius Caesar, one of William Shakespeare’s more well-known plays, Marc Antony finds himself persuading a crowd who believe Caesar’s death was for the benefit of the Roman people. Antony had implored “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” in an attempt to sway the crowd to give credence to his belief that Caesar’s death is a tragedy to the Roman folk and create a mutual bond between him and the crowd. This bond created by Antony is one of the very few times his speech dips into the realm of ethical appeals. The crowd of Romans had been originally convinced by the three main conspirators, mainly by Brutus, that Caesar’s death was to the benefit of all the Romans by portraying Caesar as a tyrant. Robert P. Yagelski had stated in chapter 8 of his book “rhetoric is the art of identifying the available means of persuasion. Antony had found which avenue to take and predominantly used pathos to manipulate the simple-minded folk to seek revenge and give the same sentence to the conspirators and Caesar had received.

Many people know that Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed by many people who he had thought to be his friends. Some less common knowledge is that he did still have friends and others who stayed loyal to him. One man named Mark Antony was the most loyal of them all, even after Caesar’s death. When he found out Caesar had been killed, he began plotting to get on the traitor’s good sides and make it seem as if he had joined them so that he could convince the citizens to fight against them with him. He deceived the traitors and convinced them to let him speak at Caesar’s funeral, and in this speech he turned the citizens against them using very powerful rhetorical skills. After he had drove the traitors from the city, he took control of the city and led them to victory in a war against the conspirator’s armies. These are three telling examples that prove Antony’s skill and potential as a leader.

Brutus’s speech was all about himself, justice, high level morals, honor, and position. On the other hand, Antony was simpler and understanding to the plebeians because he knew that did not like him right now; thus, Antony gives the plebeians credit and lets them decide if they believe him or Brutus. Antony was more friendly to the plebeians he called him things “friends” to show the plebeians that he was one of them. Antony lets the plebeians know what they want to hear, uses think that the plebeians have already known, for example, when Antony had offered Caesar a crown and he did take it. Antony lets the plebeian know that Caesar was not ambitious by giving them the example of the so called crown he had offered Caesar. He also tells lets them know that if Caesar were ambitious, why would he have brought wealth, and enslaved people to help with the economy in Rome? Antony also talks about how everyone loved Caesar, this is a faulty assumption, for the fact that not everyone loved Caesar. Antony lead the plebeian to think that Caesar really care for them, when Antony take this will that was supposedly of Caesar. He

Brutus and Antony backup their claims on Caesars nature through the use of ethos. Brutus does this by saying “If there be any in this assembly, and, dear friend of Caesar to him I say that Brutus's love to Caesar was no less than his". In this statement Brutus establishes his love for Caesar as well as showing he is a friend to them by comparing the people of Rome's

Brutus’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies in Julius Caesar In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare employs various rhetorical strategies such as paradox, direct address, and antithesis to portray Brutus as a reasonable and caring individual, thus justifying his actions to the audience and fellow conspirators. Brutus begins conspiring to end Caesar’s power, and he concludes that “Caesar must bleed,” and the conspirators must “kill him boldly, but not wrathfully” (2.1.184-185). Brutus’ desire to avoid killing with wrath inspires a paradox, which is intended to draw attention and thought to the subject. By emphasizing the difference between boldness and wrath, he appears more reasonable, compelling the conspirators to side with him. The paradox promotes the

In Mark Antony’s Oration from the excerpt Julius Caesar Act III Scene II, William Shakespeare conveys that Antony wants the audience to believe that Brutus and the conspirators to be the ones to blame. Although he knows that Brutus is the one who really murdered Caesar. Antony uses repetition, logic, sarcasm, and rhetorical questions to convey the message to the audience. An example of repetition used in the oration given by Antony is in lines ten and eleven “For Brutus is an honorable man; so they are all, all honorable men…” This shows that Antony does not want people to think poorly of Brutus but if he is an honorable man than every other man around is honorable.

Antony’s speech tells the citizens that they should not disapprove of Brutus and his actions, however they still should remember Caesar for the great leader and war hero that he was. He thought that Caesar had no wrongdoings and they didn’t give him a chance. The crowds reaction was to immediately go and kill the conspirators. Inside Antony’s speech, he uses three different examples of rhetorical devices. He uses repetition, pathos, and ethos.

III, Scene II). Brutus basically is saying that he loved Caesar but his love and duty for Rome overruled his love for his friend, and that he saw that Caesar’s selfish and ambitious tendencies would be the death of Rome. Brutus makes this point in his speech in order to give the Roman common folk a logical explanation of his participation in Caesar’s murder. While Brutus accused Caesar of being selfish and ambitious, Antony defends Caesar by claiming that he is selfless and at the same time mocks Brutus in a way that is disguised by a

The speech was in honor of Caesar not like Brutus’ speech at all. Four times he said that Brutus said that Caesar was ambitious. But each of those times he showed that he was not ambitious for himself but loved Rome. Antony said this four times that “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man”(III,ii, 95-96). But because he showed that Caesar was not ambitious then maybe Brutus was not honorable. He also discussed how hurt he was that he lost his good friend. Antony does twist his promise around so it will backfire on Brutus as the killer. Antony did keep his promise to Brutus and give them all away. In the end, Antony did change the crowds' mind and they realized Brutus had lied to them the whole time before. He told them how he offered Caesar to be king and handing Caesar the crown. But Caesar denied it three

Brutus uses several logical statements throughout his speech at his victim’s funeral such as the assertion, “Had you rather Caesar were living and / die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live / all free men?” This comment was very logical to use since it would turn the reason for the murder almost completely back onto the citizens. This statement used is sensible to try to get the citizens of Rome to comprehend some of the reasonings behind the murder of his best friend. He wants to make them feel as if killing Julius Caesar was the only way to live as free men. This approach is set to try to make Romans feel as if Brutus did this vile act for the sake of them and only them.

In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare asserts that men are quick to believe in what they wish to be true. Shakespeare supports his claim by illustrating two speeches with contrasting views using logical, emotional, and ethical appeals. The author’s purpose is to use these different appeals in order to create a choice for the audience of who to follow. Shakespeare addresses a widespread audience to demonstrate the power of rhetoric in his play by epitomizing how quick an audience can change views with a strong argument.

In Shakespeare's play of Julius Caesar, Rhetoric is the art of convincing and persuading people by language through public speaking which is used in Julius Caesar’s speeches. These devices are used in Brutus and Antony statements throughout the play. Brutus is a conspirator who kills Caesar since he fears that he will have too much power over Rome and its people. In comparison, Marc Antony is the closest friend and most trusted to Caesar, who persuades the people of Rome against Conspirators for killing Caesar. (Thesis statement) Brutus appeals to logic when he explains his actions in Caesar funeral, where as Antony appeals to emotions, playing with the audience feelings to seek justice upon the conspirators.

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar chronicles the final years of the Roman Republic. This was a time of great political and civic turmoil. Nearly all major political figures of the day participated in some form of political deception. From the killing of an innocent man because of his name to assassination, no act was deemed too immoral, and no moral boundary was left uncrossed. Amidst all of this chaos one character stands above the rest. Antony is the most manipulative character because he is able to hide his true intentions from and falsely befriend the conspirators and trick them into allowing him to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Antony exploits this opportunity as a medium through which to get revenge on the conspirators, and uses numerous deceptive techniques in this speech in order to control the public.