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Misinterpretations in julius caesar
How to perform a rhetorical analysis
How to perform a rhetorical analysis
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In Shakespeare’s “the tragedy of Julius Caesar,” Shakespeare uses irony to prove the point in the speech. His repetition of phrases makes the readers question if Brutus really is an honorable man. Caesar is murdered by a bunch of assassins who turned against him, trying to make the people of Rome against Caesar too, until Caesars loyal friend steps in to prove all their opinions about Caesar to be wrong. Antony tries to prove Caesar to be a great leader and a caring man using irony and repetition.
Throughout the speech, Antony continuously repeats the same phrases until the speech finally ends. His use of repetition was actually very effective against Brutus and really made me, and the people of Rome question, is Brutus really and honorable man? He repeats “But Brutus is an honorable man” (3.2.15) and “Brutus says Julius is ambitious” (3.2.10), to make the reader question if he actually is honorable or not. The first time he says that he is an honorable man, I wondered why he is saying that and thought that he was against the assassins, but as he starts repeating the phrase I figured out why he was. Sometimes repetition sounds quite sarcastic, which I can
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tell near the middle of the speech that Antony, in fact, is being sarcastic. Is Brutus really an honorable man? In the speech, Antony uses verbal irony to turn the people of Rome against the assassins that murdered Julius Caesar.
Antony makes it seem that he isn’t trying to disprove anyone, or trying to offend Brutus, but really he is trying to change the public’s opinion of his deceased friend Caesar. He writes something good about Julius Caesar then uses the repetitive phrases to question Brutus’ claims. In the text it says “I thrice presented him a kingly crown which he did thrice refuse: was this ambitious? Yet Brutus says he is ambitious, and, sure, he is an honorable man…” (3.2.20) He continuously proves Brutus to be some sort of liar, using his effective speech to turn Rome against him. The way Antony speaks, even though he had to follow Brutus’ conditions, still managed to change the public’s view on Julius
Caesar. Antony constantly uses certain types of irony against Brutus, an effective way to get around Brutus’ conditions for his speech, some kind of loophole. Antony uses verbal irony multiple times against Brutus. He says one thing intended to mean exactly the opposite, in which “and Brutus is an honorable man” (3.2.15) may seem like some sort of compliment, some sort of praise, but it actually is meant to be an insult. A word or phrase that is said, but intended to mean the exact opposite. In this case he repeats his ironic phrase multiple times, each time making the reader question Brutus, and using verbal irony at the same time. Although Antony only uses one type of irony, it’s still enough to prove his point. Maybe Brutus didn’t realize he was being insulted, as it’s not that obvious to its intended target. Brutus tried to turn the people of Rome against the good leader Julius, trying to justify his killing, but once Antony stepped in, performing an ironic speech about Brutus and his opinions, using facts about his dear friend Julius, and it turned exactly the opposite result for Brutus. The irony in the sentence “But Brutus is an honorable man” made me question, Is Brutus really an honorable man?
In William Shakespeare's, Julius Caesar, rhetorical devices are used throughout Decius Brutus’s speech to Caesar to persuade him to attend the senate, and ultimately meet his demise. Decius Brutus uses repetition to directly play into Caesar’s ego and convince him to show at an event he was previously very unsure of. Decius first uses repetition to make Caesar feel as if he were an irreplaceable addition to the senate. He addresses Caesar as, “most mighty Caesar…” (2.2.74) multiple times throughout his oration. The repetition of “mighty” draws Caesar’s attention away from the fact that he really must not go to the senate and instead focuses on why he must. Caesar is known to be easily persuaded by the promise of attention or rewards. Decius
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
The people are essential to Antony's plan. He didn't just go and give a speech about how he felt, he knew what would come from his actions. “ I thrice presented him the crown, which he did thrice refuse” Antony is trying not to show Caesar faults, but shows how Brutus lied about Caesar being honorable, later stating honor should be made of stronger stuff . Antony is showing that when Brutus says Caesar was ambitious, he was showing that Caesar wasn't ambitious and that Brutus lied. Antony knows that if he can make Brutus seem not honorable, he can get the people to turn on the perfect
This also helped get the crowd to listen to him, because they had just heard Brutus and were all fired up about the wonderful things he had said. So both the characters start off their speeches the same, gaining credibility, but because Antony had to work harder to gain it, he performed much better.... ... middle of paper ... ... Two times Antony called the people back from running away in anger and said another thing to deepen the seed he had planted in them.
Firstly, Antony says a general statement that, “the evil that men do lives after them” (III.ii.74), when in fact he is subtly and sneeringly referring to the conspirators actions. The Roman commoners don’t realize that this general statement is swaying them, but the rest of Antony’s speech further convinces them of the evil the conspirators have done. Later, Antony talks about Brutus says that “sure, [he] is an honourable man” (III.ii.98), emphasis on the sure. Because he uses a scornful tone while sarcastically saying this statement, he is really beginning to show the audience his true feelings on the situation. Knowing that even Antony bitterly disagrees with the choices of the conspirators, it further persuades the common people of Rome to turn against Brutus and the rest of Caesar’s murderers. These occasions show Antony’s sour tone, especially towards the conspirators, and Antony’s tone also riles up the Roman citizens. His tone helps to exasperate the commoners with Caesar’s murder, and therefore assists Antony in achieving his purpose to manipulate the audience to turn against
Shakespeare uses dramatic pathos, ethos, repetition and logos in the case of Antony to make his speech memorable in his effectiveness to sway the audience’s opinion. William’s use of Antony having the last word and subterfuge powerfully displayed a moment of literature memorable for the art of persuasion and manipulation. He veiled the true intent. The weaker written speech for Brutus had one effective point. The point that he killed Caesar for Rome. The breakdown of Brutus’s speech makes readers feel the tension and
During Mark Antony’s speech he tells the crowd that Caesar was indeed not ambitious as Brutus said he was. Mark Antony says that Caesar have brought great glory to the Rome empire and that Caesar has left all his wealth for his people. In Act three Scene two, Antony says “I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: I am no orator, as Brutus is ; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man.”(3.2.221). In this quote Mark Antony is telling the citizens that unlike Brutus, he speaks the truth. He does not justify his actions unreasonably as Brutus did. These examples display Brutus’ disloyalty and betrayal to Caesar and the length of justification and reasoning he pursues after the
Brutus says," Believe me for mine honor, and have respect for mine honor that you may believe. " III:2:14he-15. By using repetition, the people can easily remember that speech, and that is the kind of speech that they like. In Antony's speech he says," Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man." (III:2:84-85).
Throughout his speech, Antony repeats the words “[Caesar] was ambitious” and “Brutus is an honorable man” to create a contrast between the two statements. (3.2.95-96). Through this repetition, Caesar successfully undermines Brutus. Everytime he calls Brutus an honorable man, he lists a positive trait of Caesar that contradicts Brutus’s claim that he was too ambitious. He tells the crowd about the times when Caesar showed compassion for the people and when he refused the crown thrice. Antony’s sarcasm about Brutus’s honor brings into question as to whether his honor deserved. This leads the audience to doubt their feelings upon Caesar’s ambition. Near the end of his eulogy, Antony uses apostrophe when he claims that “judgment ... art fled to brutish beasts” as a reason for why the Roman people believe Brutus. (3.2.114-115). Antony indirectly shames the crowd for their belief in Brutus in that Caesar was a tyrant. Fearing alienation of the crowd, he attributes this belief to a lapse in judgement that beasts have taken. Antony also makes a pun upon Brutus’s name when he comments “brutish beasts.” Antony implies Brutus has caused a lapse in judgement within the Roman people through his oration
& respects the intelligence of the common people to understand a speech given in verse. Brutus's authoritative air is once again illustrated at the very opening line of his oration when he demands the attention of the people, "Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my / cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me / for mine honor and have respect to mine honor, that / you may believe"(Act III, scene ii, lines 13-16). this one line, Antony uses Brutus's words to his advantage by changing them to make himself sound friendlier. By the very first word of Antony's speech, one can infer that he is about to give a humbling oration; he uses the ethical appeal to convince the people to believe in his cause rather than Brutus's. Finally, while the crowd is in awe of Brutus's raw power and booming authority, Antony uses sarcasm He is "an honorable man" (Act III, scene II, line 84) in a tone of biting mockery, therefore questioning Brutus's credibility. & nbsp; It is true that the Roman people have emotions that sway with the winds, but this is partly due to the great speaking skills of both Brutus and Mark Antony.
Antony reminds the plebeians about the time when he, himself “presented [Caesar] a kingly crown, / Which [Caeasar] did thrice refuse” (III. ii. 97-98). Using logic and reasoning, Mark Antony explains to his crowd that the fallen Caesar couldn’t possibly have been ambitious if he had refused the ticket to become King multiple times. Immediately afterward, Antony made sure to remind the plebeians that Brutus is an honorable man. This use of logos with verbal irony proves to be extremely effective. Since Antony presented the crowd with a compelling fact supporting that Caesar was not ambitious, the phrase “Brutus is an honorable man,” would be even more effective in allowing his audience to realize that Brutus and the conspirators may not be honorable (III. ii. 83). According to Brutus, the conspirator's sole reason to kill Caesar was because they believed he was ambitious, Antony’s statement would then be incredibly useful to turn the crowd against Brutus and his people. The plebeians would start to realize that noble Brutus and his conspirators might not be honorable and could potentially have their own, personal reasons to assassinate Julius Caesar. Once the crowd realizes that Brutus and the conspirators could have murdered their leader for no valid reason, they would begin to feel anger which are the building steps to starting a rebellion just like how Antony
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare which appears to be a classic. In this poem there are many important events that occur. One of many, the speeches given at Julius Caesar's funeral. Both Mark Antony and Brutus speak to the audience in hope of comfort for all. The speeches also serve to persuade and convince the people of the truth. Each say their own story and convince the audience, but only one truly succeeds. Although they both use ethos, pathos and logos, classical appeals, only one is able to use them to his advantage and accomplish his goal. The one speaker who achieves his goal is Mark Anthony because he uses the classical appeals to connect to the audience, make facts useful and is able to make the audience and himself all feel equal and united.
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
In an indirect way, Antony states, “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, /And, sure, he is an honorable man” (2.3. 97-98). During Antony’s speech, he reiterates the fact that Brutus is an honorable man. This method is a way of indirect irony, because Antony is trying to show the fact that if Brutus is supposed to be honorable, it is incorrect for him to have those kind of actions. Antony states the fact that he once, “presented him a kingly crown,/Which he did thrice refuse.
Antony was a phenomenal speaker and knew how to use his words wisely. During Caesar’s funeral, Antony uses nothing but his words to persuade hundreds of Roman citizens to turn against Brutus and the rest of the conspirators. Throughout the speech, he intentionally repeats the phrase, “And Brutus is an honorable man” (Shakespeare 50). He places this phrase in a specific spot in his speech after giving an example of how Brutus is not honorable. He continually repeats this in order for the audience to understand he doesn’t mean what he is saying.