Manipulation In Julius Caesar

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Brutus and the Art of Ruling the Minds of Men In Shakespeare's famous play, Julius Caesar, we are predominately shown people who are hierarchical to the citizens of Rome using manipulation and persuasion to their advantage. These rhetorical skills are mainly shown between two great powers: Brutus, a nobleman who is well respected in Rome and a companion of Caesar; and Antony, a man who is not seen as respected as Brutus among the people, but instead he is seen with great power, as he is Caesar’s faithful lieutenant. Leading up to the climax of Caesar’s demise, Brutus is faced with a heavy predicament: either side with a radical conspiracy, or a forming dictatorship. The noble Brutus, due to his love for the republic of Rome, chooses to join the conspiracy unto which is constructed to murder the “ambitious” tyrant, Caesar. Thus, Caesar is murdered in the name of preserving a republican Rome, Brutus is now faced with the challenge of defending his nobility by explaining his …show more content…

But, as he was ambitious, I slew him” (III, II, 3-5), Brutus proclaims. This main argument of Brutus fully allows the audience to comprehend the reasoning for their valiant leader’s murder, by applying to logos: effectively turning the audience’s favor towards Brutus’s morales. Brutus closes his argument with a series of rhetorical questions, “Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak—for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak—for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country?” (III, II, 10-14) Through his brilliant composition, Brutus was able to persuade and somewhat manipulate his audience to the point where they attempt to replace Caesar with Brutus, “Let him be Caesar!” (III, II, 2), a lone Plebeian stated. Nonetheless, we soon learn of a fault in this seemingly perfect speech of

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