How Does Antony Use Ethos In Julius Caesar's Funeral Speech

The debate of which funeral speech was better is still ongoing. The speeches presented at Caesar’s funeral, given by both Brutus and Mark Antony in Act III, scene ii, of William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. They both use different methods to try and persuade those attending the funeral. Logos, ethos, and pathos were used differently in each of their speeches.

Brutus begins his speech by addressing the situation, Caesar’s death, and then by making the crowd feel powerful. He also uses the appeal to reason and logic during his speech to Caesar's body. He explains that he did not have any hatred towards Caesar, nor was he jealous of him. Brutus committed the crime for the greater good of Rome. He says, “Not that I

loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (Anderson 831). This is an example of logos. Brutus is referring back to what the people wanted; someone who would take care of Rome, and that was not Caesar. Brutus also flatters Caesar by calling him wise and lovely. By doing this he is showing verbal irony because he does not really mean what he is saying. “Brutus is a rational man and believes that other men can be persuaded by reason. He is anxious to justify himself. His speech is full of the word “I”, he never once mentions Cassius or any of the other conspirators” (Delaney).
Mark Antony successfully uses Pathos in his funeral speech to get the Roman citizens to side with him.

In his speech he talks very well about Caesar. Antony speaks about Caesar’s loyalty, and how close of friends they were in attempt to get the Roman citizens to feel the same way. In Act III, scene ii, line 86, Antony said, “He was my friend, faithful and just to me” (Anderson 835). Once again, Antony is telling the audience how sympathetic Caesar is and says, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” (Anderson 835). Mark Antony claims he has came to not praise Caesar, but to bury him. If Caesar was as ambitious and dangerous as Brutus and the conspirators said, Caesar deserved to

die.
Both Mark Antony and Brutus had very many similarities in their speeches that were presented at Caesar's funeral. Both of the writers use ‘threes’. They connect three similar words together. Brutus uses “friends, countrymen, and lovers” (Anderson 831). The word lovers portrays the meaning “lovers of Rome.” Mark Antony also uses “friends, romans, and countrymen” (Anderson 834). By both Antony and Brutus saying these three words, it makes the crowd feel like they are their friends. Both of the men really did care for Caesar as a friend. Another similarity they had in common was that they both tried persuading the citizens that attended the funeral to side with one or the other.
Brutus and Mark Antony had some major differences in their speeches given to Caesar’s body.

Brutus’ speech to the citizens was in total character as he goes on to explain his reasons for assassinating his “friend” Caesar. “Brutus was very honorable and Antony was very persuasive. When Brutus spoke at Caesar’s funeral, he appealed to the people’s logic and Antony spoke to the emotions of the people. Antony is very smart and uses his brain frequently during the play and Brutus is very naive about many of things” (“Julius Caesar”). Antony is a very smart man that uses his brain to think things through throughout the play, while Brutus is very foolish about certain

things.
Mark Antony’s speech was the most effective speech. He successfully uses Logos, Ethos, and Pathos in this situation. Antony’s speech was better because he earned the Roman people over. They sided with him by expressing how honorable Caesar was, and how much he cared about each and every individual citizen. The main reason Antony’s speech was more superior is because he received the crowd's attention when he used verbal irony. He continuously claimed Brutus as an honorable man. Even though Brutus did have some strong points in his speech, Antony’s was stronger and more persuasive!
In the end, the people of Rome were more persuaded by Antony’s speech. This shows by how they reacted against the conspirators and overall against Brutus. Even though Brutus was supposedly more intelligent than Antony, Antony used pathos better than Brutus. The ongoing debate will probably continue to be that way for at least a while.