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Rhetorical Devices In Julius Caesar

Decent Essays

While reading the book The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Using these rhetorical devices he changes ideas of the people from happy for Caesar’s death too convincing them to try and attack the conspirators. With theses rhetorical devices he draws a lot of rhetorical appeal from logos, and pathos to really convert peoples beliefs. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Antony uses irony, eulogy, and sarcasm to show Caesar was a great man and how they need revenge for Caesar. Mark Antony in his speech appeals to logos to show how foolish the peoples new found hate for Caesar is. In the same period of him using logos he appeals too irony. One example of Antony using irony is when he says “ but yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood against the world now lies he there and none so poor reverence”. In this he told them that yesterday the respect for Caesar had no bounds but today no one feels they are small enough to show him respect. In saying this quote he draws to the logos side of people showing them how irrational it is for their mindsets to completely switch in the course of the day. The other use of irony is when Antony says in his speech “ good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up to such a such a sudden flood of mutiny”(act II scene II Shakespeare) in this he uses verbal irony because he does not want to mutiny, but that is exactly what he also shows his ability to manipulate to make the people feel it was their idea to get revenge. The next rhetorical device Mark Antony uses are eulogy. He uses this to show how great Caesar was an exploit the citizens’ emotions, and in turn exploits pathos. One example of eulogy in Antony’s speech is “beg hair of him for memory and mention it within wills” (Act II Scene II Shakespeare) in this Antony states that people loved Caesar so much they wish they had a small memento to remember him by and pass it down like a treasure. In this, he is saying Caesar is this great man the people all remember and we were lucky to have him. One other use of eulogy has been Mark Antony seemingly ,out of no where, saying “He hath brought many captives home to Rome and whose ransoms did the general coffers fill” (Act II Scene II

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