Julius Caesar's Mantle To The Crowd

“I love the name of honor, more than I fear death,” a quote said by one of the most famous Roman leaders named Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was born in July 100 BC and he died on March 15, 44B.C. Caesar was a general, politician, and a dictator. Caesar was loved by many people for guiding them and providing safety for them, but he was also hated by a countless number of people. That hate ended up in him being murdered. He gave Rome hope for a better future and a promise of new land, jobs, and wealth. Caesar accomplished many things for his country like win many victories, developed the Julian calendar, and redistributed land to the poor. He used many different tactics and strategies to win his wars. Through brilliant military tactics, Julius Caesar, ruler of Rome from 49 B.C. to 44 B.C., guided the people of Italy and Rome to achieve many victories, allowing him to become a powerful ruler, hero, and inspiration and leaving a legacy that still shapes the world today.

Ancient Rome is known for some of the most powerful leaders, rulers, and kings to ever walk the earth. With many powerful leaders came many different political styles, ideas, and philosophies ranging from the democracy we have in America today to power driven tyrants consumed by their greed for new land and more cities to rule.

Julius Caesar’s death came about by the betrayal of the conspirators. Brutus was one of Caesar’s closest friends, but his dagger was the last to break through Caesar’s cloak. The commoners and Antony were shocked to see the whole scene as the conspirators “stream forth thy blood” from Caesar. (III, i, 201) This image allows the reader to really visualize how Caesar actually died in the hands of the other conspirators. Mark Antony felt betrayed by not just Brutus, but all of the conspirators. He was devastated, but managed to stay dignified by “shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes”. (III, i, 198) The image of blood on each of the hands of the conspirators resulted in Caesar dying by betrayal. Blood and betrayal make the reader think that it would lead Mark Antony’s actions to reflect those of the conspirators, but he perseveres and just asks for one chance to speak at Julius’ funeral. Betrayal by one person can lead to the leadership of another.

William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar is one of his most monumental plays that cover Julius Caesar’s death and the fallout after it. He got the material for this play from a Greek writing called the Life of Julius Caesar. This was actually a famous biography written by Plutarch in the first century, I was later translated by Sir Thomas North in 1579. Published in 1599 this play is assumed to be the first to be ever preformed in the famous Globe Theater, it was a smash success that moved audiences. This play has stood the test of time being regarded as a timeless masterpiece and work of perfection. Shakespeare did this by displaying deep moving characters, vibrant and astounding settings, and intriguing points of view in Julius Caesar.

In Antony’s speech used lots of pathos and some logos to turn the crowd. When Antony shows Caesar’s body to the crowd is one of the ways Antony uses pathos to persuade the crowd. Another technique that Antony uses is when he continuously Calls all the conspirators all honourable. And finally when Antony addresses all the people as Caesar’s heirs and taunts them with his will. These are the ways Antony uses Pathos to change the people into a rioting mob.

Mark Antony’s speech following Julius Caesar’s assassination uses his own understanding of ethos, pathos, and logos to make the crowd feel his pain and play effectively into his own motivations unknowingly. As Mark Antony delivers his speech to the crowd of plebeians his purpose and motivation is revealed when in context before the actual speech is delivered when Antony says, “A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;” (III.i.262-264).Antony’s motives have been uncovered to reveal his desire for a civil war that will bring him more power and throughout his speech he is also trying to disprove those, in his opinion, false accusations of ambition Caesar’s murderers have given as cause for his death.

In these ways, while Julius has many connections as a half-Nigerian, half-German American immigrant, Julius doesn’t really own or have a real loyalty to any of these ties. Moreover, we see what a strain this is on Julius’s sense of identity. A dream he has perhaps best demonstrates this condition he finds himself in – Julius is running around Lagos with a sister (which he doesn’t have) and awakes to that familiarly bewildering condition of waking up in a hotel in a new city:

A major plot and moral theme in the play Julius Caesar is rhetoric, or the art of persuading using words. A major event in the play that highlights this theme is the funeral speeches that Brutus and Mark Antony give. This scene acts as a transition between Julius Caesar’s assassination and the violent aftermath of it. Both Brutus and Mark Antony hope to persuade the crowd for their cause. Brutus is looking to calm the people of Rome, and to justify the Conspiracy. Meanwhile, Mark Antony is looking to persuade the people to avenge Caesar’s death and give him and his allies power without looking desperate. Mark Antony reaches his goal because he more successfully uses the persuasion skills of Ethos, Pathos and Logos during his speeches.

In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Mark Antony gives a speech, he uses repetition and emotional appeal to be more effective in showing the audience what the conspirators have really done. He repeats certain phrases in a sarcastic way that turns Brutus own words against him and in doing this he shows the awful reasons to why Julius Caesar was murdered.

Throughout the play Julius Caesar Antony, Caesar’s loyal servant, has become a bigger and bigger factor in the play. He really breaks out in Act III. In Act III, Brutus and others have killed Caesar, but yet leaves Antony unharmed because he seems harmless. Antony wants to show the public Caesar’s body and say a funeral speech. Brutus, trusting Antony, allows him to do so, but under some certain terms. Antony must speak good of the conspirators and not blame them. Antony uses logos and ethos, irony, and finally establishes ethos to turn the crowd away from Brutus.

Arguably, the third act of Shakespeare’s famous play, “Julius Caesar” is the most important to understanding the play. Within this act, Caesar is murdered by Brutus. Following the murder of Caesar, Brutus and Mark Antony give speeches to the crowd of Roman Plebeians standing outside. Brutus speaks first, followed by Antony. Both Brutus and Marc Antony deliver very compelling speeches designed with elements of traditional rhetoric such as ethos, logos, pathos, parallelism, rhetorical questions and repetition. It can be argued that Marc Antony’s speech was the better of the two based on the crowds reaction, and the sheer composure of it.

Shakespeare effectively uses metaphors to reveal Antony’s true feelings about this tragic event. After showing the people of Rome Caesar's, body he pauses and states, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar” ( lll.ii.30-35). This metaphor shows the deep emotion that Antony is feeling. Since, Antony was a very close friend to Caesar, his murder presents sorrowful time for him. Another metaphor used during the speech is “But yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood against the world; now lies he there.” (lll.ii. 48-57.) This quote shows that Caesar was a powerful person. His words inspired people; now he can no longer do this due to the selfishness of Brutus.

The clang of the swords on the shields pierced General Julius Caesar’s ear. He couldn’t wait till the war against the Greeks was over and he could return home to his wife. He slaughtered 113 enemy soldiers and was still on the hunt to find one. He stepped over 47 bodies, some of which were still breathing and groaning their last breaths on the eastern shore of the river Acheron. Caesar's nemesis was General Brutus,the leader of the greek army, and his old best friend. After the battle at the River of Acheron, General Julius Caesar rode back to his camp, Gleaming in his Ice-white armour, shining in his glory after his victory vs the Greeks.

There are certain traits that make someone a great leader. Said traits range from valiance or courage, not being easily dissuaded or deterred. These attributes can almost guarantee success in any environment, such as a government or in a military standpoint. Therefore if one lacks in these traits, failure is tantamount for not only themselves, but also the ones under their leadership. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the character Brutus portrays this situation almost perfectly. In the tragedy, it plays out the events leading to Julius’ death, the assassination itself, and the following turmoil. In the beginning, the original leader of the assassination, Cassius, tries tirelessly to persuade Brutus to understand the misdeeds and shortcomings

On Wednesday 10th September 2014, I witnessed the Oratory Foundation’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The production was held at Naparima bowl at San Fernando. It began promptly at 9:30 am. This tale closely follows the rise to province and the ultimate demise of Roman icon and revolutionary politician Julius Caesar. The themes shown in this story are love, honour, betrayal, patriotism, selfishness and selflessness. This enticing tale also has its fair share of action such as murder, suicide, vengeance and conspiracy.