Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

532 Words2 Pages

Zach Sebastian
Mrs Grillo
Sophomore Honors: 1
10 May 2015

The Sway of Public Opinion

Without knowing it, we are very accustomed to the old saying "Save the best for last." In social events and sporting competitions, those in charge use their best to leave a greater impact on their opponents and their audience. We can also see this being used while watching a firework display and the most grand fireworks appear only at the end of the show. William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, Julius Caesar, is a great example of the saying. In Act III, Scene II of the play, the city of Rome is in mourning after their leader was murdered by conspirators consisting of the city's own Senators. Romans gather near the Roman Senate House to hear Brutus and Marc Anthony's words. By the end of Brutus' speech, the crowd is supporting his actions and justifying him, but by the end of the scene, they are supporting Anthony. What exactly did Anthony say and do to convince the Romans to support his claims and oppose Brutus so much …show more content…

so that they drove him out of the city? Anne Barton suggest that his use of language is the strongest force to convince the mob gathered at the Senate House. Through his use of rhetorical questions, logic, extensive vocabulary, and repetition, Marc Antony was able to sway the public opinion to his advantage. While one learns or listens to a person, they are more interested in what the person has to say when the audience member him or herself are directly asked.

Marc Antony recognizes this point when he speaks to the crowd of Romans. This is why he prefers to ask the members rhetorical questions rather than asking literal questions. Brutus, however; is unaware of the effectiveness of a rhetorical question. Instead, Brutus asks the crowd literal questions, expecting answers from the crowd. Antony’s use of rhetorical questions allows the listeners in the crowd to contemplate, formulate their own opinion, and eventually give their support to Antony. When Brutus asks if he did insult or offend anyone because they don’t want to be a Roman, it seems as though Brutus is trying to get an answer quickly, even stopping for a reply. Had Brutus formulated this as a rhetorical question and continued on with his speech, he would have gained more support with his

decisions. Brutus main motive in joining the conspirators to assassinate Julius Caesar was that he was concerned about Caesar’s ever-growing ambition. Antony address this claim in his speech and contradicts Brutus’ concerns with Caesar’s honorable work. “He hath brought many captives home to Rome, / Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill; / Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (JC III.ii.89-91). Antony uses the prisoners of war Caesar had captured to convince the Romans that Caesar’s so-called “ambition”wasn’t desperate, but that to help Rome, acquiring wealth for a rich city. Antony also uses some common logic to make Brutus seem not entirely at fault. We as a society look upon our leaders and politicians with great admiration and honor. Like today, the Romans looked fondly upon their leaders. Antony uses this logic to not clear Brutus’

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Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay