Cassius Use Of Manipulation In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In a novel or play, an orator should be skilled in that he or she is articulate, expressive and able to persuade others towards their viewpoint. In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, there are three main orator’s: Antony, Brutus, and Cassius. Each of these character’s plays a crucial role in the telling of Caesar’s story, yet the most skillful of the three is Cassius. Despite his evil aura, Cassius’ use of word play and manipulation makes him undoubtedly the most eloquent and persuasive among the three. Cassius is able to appeal to the emotions, logic, and ethics of the other characters, making it effortless for him to convince them that his point is the only honorable one.
Cassius’ effective use of persuasion is exemplified

in Act 1, Scene 2 in regards to his speech directed at Brutus. Appealing to Brutus’ emotions, Cassius states, “I was born free as Caesar; so were you; We both have fed as well, and we can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he...it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world” (Shakespeare 21). In hopes of convincing Brutus that Caesar is not fit to be a ruler, Cassius effectively appeals to Brutus’ emotions in that he made Brutus feel as if he and Caesar were equals. Besides Cassius’ appeal of manipulation, he brings things that Brutus has undoubtedly thought about before into light. Regarding to the idea that Brutus and Caesar are equals, Cassius goes on to state, “‘Brutus and ‘Caesar.’ What should be in that Caesar?’ Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together: yours is a fair name” (Shakespeare 23). This elucidates the idea that if Cassius is able to show Brutus his viewpoint in a different perspective, Brutus will realize that Caesar is not a suitable leader. As a result of his wit, Cassius uses Brutus’ time of vulnerability to get him to turn on Caesar. The wordplay, figurative language, and manipulation used by Cassius instantly catches the reader’s attention, making him the most cogent orator in the play.
Additionally, Cassius’ word choice and use of repetition contribute to making him a skilled Orator.

In act 1, scene 3 during Cassius’ conversation with Casca, he proclaims, “Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat” (Shakespeare 41). When he repeats “ye gods”, Cassius is attempting to put an emphasis on his strain, or anger, with the gods for giving a man like Caesar power over anyone else. This use of repetition catches the reader's eye and attention and gears their focus onto what he is trying to express. Moreover, Cassius’ word play and way with words help him in colluding and persuading others to join his cause. While talking to Brutus and the conspirators, Cassius states, “We’ll leave you Brutus. And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember What you have said and show yourselves true Romans” (Shakespeare 63). Cassius’ use of the word “friends”, in regards to specifically Brutus, is intended to create a personal connection among the group, in hopes of ensuring that Brutus feels as though he is making the right decision. Overall, Cassius’ way with words successfully gives him a sort of power over the other orator’s, making his language and syntax the most eye- catching and

skilled.
Despite Cassius’ obvious dominance over Antony and Brutus, some people may be of the opinion that they are the more skilled orator’s. For example, a person may believe that Antony was strong in that he was able to get all of the citizens on his side after his speech at Caesar’s funeral, “Methinks there is much reason in his sayings...There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony”, the citizens responded to this speech (Shakespeare 117). While it is true that Antony was able to do such a thing, it is not because he was a skilled orator. The citizens of Rome were “ruler-hoppers” in that they never stayed loyal to a ruler. This is exemplified at the start of the play when the citizens switched their loyalty ever-so quickly from Pompey to Caesar, thus showing that the citizens were easy to manipulate. In contrast, Cassius had the task of getting Brutus on his side, which was the hardest to do in that Brutus was Caesar’s most loyal companion and follower. As a result of Cassius’ success in converting Brutus’ opinion, his obvious dominance and skillfulness in being an orator is shown. Antony was only able to convert those who were easy to manipulate, and Brutus was more of a follower than a leader, therefore elucidating the idea that Cassius was the only skilled orator in the play.