After the assassination of Julius Caesar, both Brutus and Antony speak to the people of Rome. Brutus speaks to convince his countrymen that he and the others were justified in their actions; Caesar was a threat to their freedom and country. Antony exemplifies in his speech that Caesar was not ambitious and always had the people’s well-being in mind. Both of these speakers are effective in persuading the Romans of their cause but Brutus’s speech is most effective because of the way he was able to communicate his reasoning clearly and make the audience thankful for his actions.
To begin, Brutus’s use of logos in his speech was very useful when it came to persuading the audience. Brutus used logos by giving the people of Rome reasons why Caesar
…show more content…
Brutus consistently uses rhetorical questions. This is effective because the people of Rome, the audience, is made to think logically about what he is asking. For example, Brutus says, “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?” (Julius Caesar 3.2 lines) This quote holds importance to the speech because it makes the audience think if they would want to be slaves, if Caesar would have made them slaves, if it really is best that Caesar has been assassinated. In addition to this, Brutus’s diction is very negative toward Caesar, and that could affect the mood of the speech. By calling Caesar rude, vile, and ambitious, Brutus attempts to make the audience feel negatively toward Caesar. This is effective because it will allow Brutus to persuade them easier. Brutus also appeared to be speaking in a patronizing tone. While this implies negativity, it was effective toward the audience. By speaking as if he was above the people, Brutus made the audience feel as if he was trustworthy to listen to. Naturally, people of more likely to listen to someone who is in a position of power over
By nature, the crowd of Romans will be more concerned with their personal safety than the death of their ruler. Antony appeals to his personal experiences and friendship with Caesar in a touching, personal, primarily pathetic argument; on the other hand, Brutus appeals to the Roman citizens directly by presenting himself as their protector against Caesar, a threat to their safety and liberty. Therefore, in terms of effectiveness, Brutus reaches his audience on a much more personal and convincing level with his argument than Antony was able to with his account of his friendship and life with
Persuasion is a natural method many people use to influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviors in a situation. Many include, bribing parents to buy clothes to even lending someone money. Either way, people all over the world use words or phrases to convince or sway a person into believing them. Just as many people have used rhetorical appeals to persuade someone, Anthony also uses the rhetorical appeals; heartfelt pathos, questionable logos and evident ethos in William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar to convince his audience that Caesar was not ambitious and that Caesar was innocent
Antony asks rhetorical questions and lets the audience answer for themselves. Brutus uses ethos by stating that he a noble man and that is why the people should believe him but infact Antony questions his nobility by saying what Brutus said,” Brutus is an honourable man”(III.ii.79). In a way, Antony states what Brutus states to convince the audience by using examples that Brutus is wrong. Antony himself knows what kind of man Brutus is but lets the people figure it out on their own. In addition, Brutus uses logos by expressing that fact that Caesar died because of his ambition. This argument is severely under supported because his reasons are invalid and simply observations. Antony uses “did this in Caesar seem ambitious” to question Brutus’ argument (III.ii.82). Antony gives examples backing his argument like when Caesar refused the crown thrice to prove his humbleness. The way Antony convinces the people to rebel is by using pathos. He brings the audience in by stepping down to their level and showing them the body of Caesar. While Antony talks at Caesar's funeral, he pauses because” heart us in the coffin there with Caesar “(III.ii.98). When Antony becomes emotional, he reminds the audience about what injust event happened to the much loved
Brutus vs Antony The most predominate and important aspect in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare are the speeches given to the Roman citizens by Brutus and Antony, the two main characters, following the death of Caesar. Brutus and Antony both spoke to the crowd, using the same rhetorical devices to express their thoughts. Both speakers used the three classical appeals employed in the speeches: ethos, which is an appeal to credibility; pathos, which is an appeal to the emotion of the audience; and logos, which is an appeal to the content and arrangement of the argument itself. Even though both speeches have the same structure, Antony’s speech is significantly more effective than Brutus’s. Both speakers used an ethical appeal to the crowd and established their credibility.
However, Antony’s small amount of logos is just as strong, if not stronger than Brutus’s excessive amount. While in the first of calming the crowd, Brutus inquires, “Would you rather Caesar live and die all slaves, / than that Caesar were dead and die all free men?” (JC 3.2.23-24). This is a botched logic; he does not ever present actual evidence of this tyrannical behavior in Caesar or his actions. However, in the minds of the king-fearing Romans, the words, flimsy though they are, are enough. In disproving Brutus’s claims that Caesar was ambitious, Antony uses many examples to prove the opposite. The following brings the welfare of the people into it, showing that with Caesar alive they were given much: “He hath brought many captives home to Rome, / whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; / did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (JC 3.2.89-91). Antony provides solid evidence and a sound argument to explain that Caesar’s seemingly ambitious actions were rather to help the people of Rome, which is not ambitious in the
Antony and Brutus played critical parts into the situation of Caesar’s death.Their speeches represented the different views of Julius Caesar’s death, telling the crowds of the reasons of his death. The speeches both used techniques persuade the Romans with their different beliefs by giving them a thinking point to base their decisions of what side they agree with( eventually creating the armies they join in the conflict to find and prove the truth of Julius Caesar’s death.
Depending on the cause and how they speak is how an audience will react. The ending can make or break how it went, you always want to leave the crowd with your main point or something to get across to them. Brutus mentions Antony “Do grace Caesar’s corpse and grace his speech”(3.2.62-63), this leaves people in anticipation of Mark Antony’s speech and to give him respect and time. Agnes Heller says “Brutus is not a man without passions...such as friendship, courage, magnanimity, temperance, and justice.”(Heller) this can show that Brutus does not know any better than to tell the people about Mark Antony and support him because he is too kind hearted to purposely not give Antony a chance to speak. Mark Antony however ends his speech with pathos and emotion, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar”(3.2.108) which makes the crowd sympathize for him. Also Antony makes sure to include a dramatic pause for his speech to sink in and for effect, this causes the people to go out into a riot. Antony got the reaction he was looking for by angering the Romans, seeing that Caesar is dead without good cause. In the article “The Tragic Hero of Julius Caesar” Paolucci says that “Marc Antony will be the key figure in the determination of the fate of Rome and of the conspirators/liberators.”(Paolucci). In the play Antony does become a key factor in their fate, this speech is part of it because he quickly turns the Roman citizens against them. The kind of reputation that you have in a community can also have a huge part in making people listen to you. Brutus was known as the nobleman throughout Rome that people would often listen to and trust. Mark Antony was known as Caesar’s loyal friend but also did not have to bad of a reputation in Rome, maybe not as good as Brutus but it was not bad. “Here comes his body mourned by Antony”(Shakespeare, 3.2.42) shows empathy to Mark Antony and makes the audience start focusing on Antony instead of himself and
Through the whole of his spectacular speech, Mark Antony influences the crowd using his distinct diction. He is able to inculcate a fired up anti-Caesar mass of people, and he makes the populace believe that Julius Caesar’s death was a true tragedy. Antony gracefully applies his proficiency with ‘logos’ and ‘pathos’ to his speech and is able to adroitly gain followers. His strong reasoning and explanations allow the Romans to buy what he has to say. Antony’s ability to speak in a roundabout way is a key constituent of his speech. Withal, he is extremely humble and the way he plays down his prowess is impressive. Mark Antony puts all the parts of his remarkable rhetoric together, and the result is a speech for the ages.
He uses a range of rhetorical devices to manipulate the crowd. Both characters make very powerful speeches that will eventually determine who rules Rome. Both characters begin their speeches with a list of three. This rhetorical device creates a powerful and intense atmosphere: “Romans, countrymen, and lovers” – Brutus “Friends, Romans, countrymen” – Marc Antony Brutus puts “Romans” and “countrymen” at the start of his list of three. This shows us that Brutus’ number one priority is Rome and his country, and not the people.
Even though both of their logos catches the ears of the people Antony's caught their full undivided attention. Brutus uses something most people have for their country, love. Brutus states," Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." (III:2:20-21). Brutus says that he iis doing his all for the sake of Rome and that Caesar's ambition scares him. Antony on the other hand, proves that Caesar did not have much ambition, and that he loved his people. Antony says," You all did see that on Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?". (III:2:93-95). Also he states," Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal to every Roman citizen he gives- to every several man- seventy-five drachmas." (III:2:230-232). This is what mainly helps him win over the
Brutus made his speech effective in persuading the people by using tone and rhetorical devices. Brutus was compassionate when referring to how he loved Caesar as much as Caesar`s friends of his speech. Brutus was showing compassion on lines18 - 20 when he said, "If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus's love to Caesar was no less than his." Brutus said this to help the people understand the sorrow he felt for the loss of Caesar, but he felt he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. Brutus anticipated an objection by the people when he said he loved Caesar , so he went on to say on lines 20 - 23, "If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I love Caesar less, but Rome more."Brutus manipulated the people with rhetorical questions. He asks them on lines 29 - 33, " who is so base, that they would be a bondman, who is so rude, that they would not be a Roman, and who is so vile, that will not love his country," the people do not want to be against their country nor do they want to be so base to be a slave....
He speaks to justify his actions for killing Caesar and uses his “honor and nobility” as a shield against the crowd. Brutus makes his first mistake by dispersing half of the audience by saying, “Those that will hear me speak, let em’ stay here; those that will follow Cassius, go with him.”(3.2.5-6) Here, Brutus is making Cassius seem equal in power, and he is not emphasizing how he needs the attention of the whole audience. Additionally, throughout the speech Brutus is not specific enough when explaining his reasons for Caesar’s death. He continuously refers to himself as an honorable man, and said Caesar was too much of a threat to Rome. On (3.2.31-33) “Who is here so rude that he would not be a Roman?” Shakespeare is illustrating the powerful use of pathos during this moment. He pauses for effect, knowing that no one would publicly admit to being unpatriotic. Brutus is using a more intimidating and cold form of persuasion here, and we later come to discover that his lack of insight and human nature aided in the hopelessness of his
Brutus repeatedly says, “If any, speak, for him have I offended,” (III.ii.25). Brutus’ tactic is to try to force someone, or dare them, to disagree with him, which no one ends up doing. Brutus tries to make people fear him, which works for a brief period of time. Mark Antony, on the other hand, goes on the attack, rather than the defense, by repeatedly saying, “Yet Brutus said he was ambitious; And… he is an honourable man.” (III.ii.89-90). By going on the offensive side, Mark Antony uses the repetition of this extreme usage of irony and sarcasm to make the audience understand that all of this is Brutus’ fault and that he should be punished for his crimes, no matter his intentions. Both groups use similar rhetorical strategies to prove that Caesar should or should not be dead for what he has done, with differing results. Brutus and Mark Antony also use emotional appeals to persuade their audience that they are correct in the matter of the death of their esteemed
As far as how effective the speech was, Brutus went the whole nine yards in terms of convincing the people that what he and his fellow conspirators did, was for the benefit of all those who wish to live free, those who wish to live as Romans.... ... middle of paper ... ... This five minute speech changed the lifestyle and respect for all black men and women.