Rhetoric in Julius Ceaser

Before Caesar died,Brutus was trying to expose him for the man he really was. In Act 1, Scene 2, 97-99 , Cassius says to Brutus “ I was born as free as Caesar; so were you: we both have fed as well and he can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he”. What he meant by this is that Brutus and Caesar are the same. Everyone treats Caesar like a king but he is the same as everybody else.

Speeches are important to pay attention to, because you as a listener can grasp the concept that is being delivered. The use of rhetoric helps sway or convince an audience by using the three strategies of persuasion. The three strategies consist of rhetorical strategies, propaganda techniques, and logical fallacies. Rhetorical strategies are used to sway the audience by targeting their morals, emotions, or giving data. Propaganda techniques are known for the misuse of emotions to persuade the audience by using points that have nothing to do with the argument. On the other hand logical fallacies finds the faults in the opponent's argument. In William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, As well as in real life use persuasion. Speakers often use rhetorical strategies and propaganda techniques, such as Brutus and Cassius, to justify their actions.

In Act I, Scene 2, the purpose of Cassis’ speech is to persuade Brutus to distrust Caesar, and to join him in a conspiracy against Caesar. In his speech to Brutus, Cassius uses a variety of persuasive and rhetorical devices to persuade Brutus to join his cause against Caesar. Cassius is desperate to have Brutus on his side because of his close relation to Caesar and great respect and trust from the people of Rome. The tone of Cassius’ speech to Brutus is introduced with Cassius appealing to Brutus’ sense of responsibility towards Rome. Cassius tells Brutus that he has, “Heard where many of the best respect in Rome, except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus and groaning underneath this age’s yoke, have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes” (I.ii.64-68). Cassius tells Brutus that he is admired by Rome, appealing to Brutus’ value of putting Rome ahead of himself. Cassius uses knowledge of this value to his advantage in his speech, insisting that killing Caesar will be for the good of Rome. Cassius also introduces his speech by persuading Brutus that he is honorable and can be trusted. Cassius tells Brutus that, “Honor is the subject of my story”(I.ii.99). This appeals to the speaker Cassius’ credibility and has an ethical appeal on Brutus, or ethos. This appeal is effective because it connects with something that Brutus values, honor. In Cassius’ speech to Brutus, he uses a comparison comparing Caesar to a Colossus saying, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves”(I.ii.142-144). Cassius is using an analogy comparing Caesar to Colossus, which was a large statue. Cassius again uses Brutus’ value of honor to persuade when he tells Brutus that if Caesar is in power, he and Brutus will die dishonorable deaths. During the time period, an honorable death was very important to noble Romans, especially Brutus. When Cassius is comparing the two names Brutus and Caesar, he uses the strategy of asking rhetorical questions. “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar?’ Why should that name be sounded more than yours?(I.ii.149-151).” Cassius also asks, “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he

He states that Brutus is just as noble and worthy as Caesar. (Act 1, scene ii). He says that Brutus cannot see what everyone else does and recognize his worthiness. Cassius and the other senators do not want Caesar to be king because they would lose all their power. Cassius is slowly luring Brutus in to do his dirty work. He builds Brutus’s confidence up to make him thing that killing Caesar is the right thing to do. Cassius is basically playing with Brutus’s head because he knows Brutus will listen. So, Brutus joins the conspirators in killing Caesar. Cassius tells Brutus that it is for the good of Rome, and that he is saving them from a dictatorship. Cassius is going for Brutus’s weakest point, his care and concern for Rome. He knows that if Brutus believes the people distrust Caesar, then he will be convinced that Caesar must be thwarted. Brutus knew that if Caesar was crowned, he would never have a chance, and he was power hungry. This is what ultimately leads to the tragedy of Julius Caesar. After Brutus kills Caesar off, he starts to feel guilty for killing his friend, thus creating an internal conflict. Brutus was so confident that the plan would go exactly as planned that he fell apart when they encountered problems. If Brutus and the other conspirators had taken more time to think things through, they probably would have been more prepared for the situation that was handed to them.

Rhetorical questions are meant to sway audiences to the speaker or writers thoughts on a subject. Antony uses a rhetorical question to not only have the crowd think of Caesar, but also to have the crowd think of Brutus. Antony says, "He hath brought many captives home to Rome, / Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill, / Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?" (III.ii.16-18). This exhibits skillful use of a rhetorical question because Antony not only contradicts Brutus about Caesar's ambition, but also causes the crowd to support Caesar's character. This rhetorical question bears the contradiction of Brutus because Antony refutes that Caesar was ambitious. This causes the crowd to question what ambition means and what their idea of Caesar is. He tries to sway the crowd to support Caesar by having them rethink what ambition is and what Brutus said. Antony also has the crowd question their belief of Caesar and of authority. Antony uses a rhetorical question in, "And to your heirs for ever, common pleasures, / To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves. / Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?" (III.ii.178-180). Antony persuasively uses a rhetorical question because he causes the crowd to question their meaning of authority. He also causes the crowd to once again question their idea of Caesar. Antony tries to sway the audience to realize how good of a ruler Caesar was and how rare it is that such a good ruler exists. In addition, Antony causes the crowd to recognize all the good that Caesar did for them. By using this rhetorical question, Antony shows how great a ruler Caesar was and that there is no one that is greater than he was. Antony persuasively uses rhetorical question to cause the audience to sway their opinions to match

Cassius is a senator in Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar.” He is jealous of Julius Caesar because of all the power and love he gets, as shown in the quote "Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about."(Shakespeare 7) This quote basically states that Cassius is tired of Julius being better and that he thinks they should not be beneath him. Cassius also seeks to get his own power. To achieve this he manipulates Brutus as shown by this quote, “Well, Brutus, thou art noble I see, thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” (Shakespeare 12) This

The first way Cassius shows the rhetorical principles is by swaying Brutus’ perception through ethos. Cassius and Brutus are conversing and Cassius starts listing off how he himself has witnessed signs of weakness from Caesar. He starts by relaying a story he had experienced with Caesar; the plot starting out how Caesar and himself were at a river one rough night when Caesar challenge Cassius to swim out to a certain location in the water. On a point of arrival Caesar cried out, “Help me Cassius, or I sink” (828). Finishing up the story, Cassius proceeds on to say that he saved Caesar and this is the exact reason he should not be leading this country.

Cassius appeals to pathos where he targeted Brutus' emotions and values it which led to Brutus betraying Caesar. Cassius knew Brutus is self-inflicted because Brutus does not approve Caesar as a ruler but still considers Caesar as a friend so he decides to praise Brutus by saying:

This also utilizes Cassius’ sullen behavior to accentuate Brutus’ unbiased and unprejudiced opinions. It supports the idea that Brutus is a fantastic decision maker because it reveals his apathetic nature. In addition to this, an example of the differences in the emotions of Brutus and Cassius is displayed when Brutus attempts to bury the death of Portia in his mind, “Speak no more of her.—Give me a bowl of wine.—/ In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius” (4.3.163-164). This asserts Brutus’ progressive nature because he wishes to move forward from Portia’s death. This sharply contrasts the pessimistic nature of Cassius. It juxtaposes the two to increase Brutus’ credibility as a leader. Likewise, Cassius is displayed as a foil to Brutus when he declares to Brutus what would happen if he was in charge: “Flatterers! Now, Brutus, you have only yourself to thank. / Antony wouldn’t be here to offend us today if you’d listened to me earlier” (5.1.47-49). This represents the violence and hatred inside Cassius’ heart. It contrasts this vengeful personality to Brutus’ forgiving and considerate nature. This portrays Brutus as an even more noble and honorable man because it points out his benevolence and affection for the people of Rome. Cassius and Brutus are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their motivations and personalities, but they still manage to bring out the best in each other in various

In William Shakespeare’s timeless play, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare uses Aristotle's rhetorical strategy of logos to effectively persuade the roman people to a revolt against the conspirators. For instance, Mark Antony proclaims, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; ambition should be made of sterner stuff.” Subsequent to Brutus’ affirmation that Caesar was killed due to his formidable ambition. Antony’s statement verifies to the people that Caesar was soft hearted and cares deeply for the people of Rome. As a result, the citizens begin to question Brutus’ honesty and honor as they begin to perceive Caesar in a more favorable manner due to the logic used by Antony. Furthermore, Caesar is proven to not have been after the crown when

“What trash is Rome, / What rubbish and what offal, when It serves/ For the base matter to illuminate/ So vile a thing as Caesar?” (Shakespeare 1.3.107-110) Although this quote was mentioned twice, it describes how Cassius wants to kill Caesar. Cassius refers to Caesar as “a thing”, which shows how much disrespect he has for Caesar. Cassius calls Caesar “Vile” as if Caesar repulses him. The thought of Caesar ruling disgusts Cassius, he is saying that if Caesar rules Rome, it will be complete trash and a terrible place to live therefore Caesar does not deserve to rule. What also shows the envy in Cassius is this quote from the book; “And this man/ Is now become a god, and Cassius is/ A wrenched creature and must bend his body/ If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (Shakespeare 1.2.115-119) This perfectly describes the envy and jealousy of Cassius. Cassius is telling Brutus about the time he saved Caesar from the waves of the Tiber because he could not save himself. Again the “man” Cassius is referring to Caesar. Cassius is referring to Caesar being a “man” not “a god” like other Romans treats him, because a god would have been able to save himself. Cassius thinks that Caesar should not be treated like a “god”. Cassius hates that he must “bend his body”, bow down to Caesar, which builds up more hate for Caesar and the power he holds that he does not deserve. Caesar could not even save himself from drowning, so why does he get to rule Rome? Why must Cassius bow to him? Cassius saved Caesar from the waves of the Tiber and yet Cassius must bow to Caesar if he “carelessly but nod”, Caesar should be treating Cassius like a god, not the other way around. This led to the conspiracy that Cassius wants to

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.

Cassius is a man shrouded in mystery the only thing we need to know is he isn’t the good guy in this story. The play itself starts off with a cobler and guard then Cesar comes in and after a soothsayer says “beware the ides of march”(17). warning caesar about his soon to be doom, we get Cassius first appearance where he makes himself out to be a friend and supporter of Caesar and after that we see him go and talk to Brutus. Cassius starts by saying “You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand over your friend that loves you”(36). Cassius is using pathos and connotative words to suggest a tone; he uses the words love and friend to try and gain Brutus trust. Most of Cassius speeches are made using pathos to convince the people he needs on his

The story Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare shows many rhetorical devices in the scene of Antony speaking at Caesar’s funeral. He is not allowed to speak badly about the conspirators, but with his wit and cleverness he finds his own way to. He is able to persuade the crowd with certain diction and actions that sway them over to his side. As he did not speak down on the conspirators, people understand that Brutus is not “an honorable man” as everyone figures him to be. Antony uses the logical fallacies pathos and ethos while speaking to the crowd to make him seem more credible so he can persuade them all.

At the start of the timelessly classic play, Julius Caesar was in the final stages of parlaying his military prowess and growing cult of personality into enthronement as the long absent autocrat of Rome. His brother-in-arms, Marcus Brutus, after fighting at Caesar’s side for so long, was forced to weigh his loyalty to Caesar against his loyalty to Rome, setting the stage for the troubling events to come. As Caesar’s divine right to rule and infallibility were trumpeted throughout Rome, others were not so convinced of his purity and worthiness. Cassius, a dissident Senator, opened Brutus’ eyes to the circumstances unfolding before them and to what could be lost should Caesar take the throne. Cassius voiced his opposition strongly, saying: