Persuasion In Julius Caesar

In Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar, he portrays the conflict man vs self by informing people that it is human nature to make decisions based on other people’s points of view. He does this by using rhetoric, logos, and pathos to make one character or group persuaded by a single person or multiple people. Persuasion is used throughout the novel to entice a character to agree with another character. For example, Brutus does not want to kill Caesar, even though he does not want him to become king, but his other friends attempt to persuade him into believing that murdering one of his closest comrades is a fabulous idea. Brutus tries to convince the conspirators why killing Caesar is wrong as well. Also, the fickle Roman Public are easily induced by

people of higher power’s ideas. Such as, Brutus and Antony’s funeral speeches. Caesar also tries to tell Antony that Cassius is most certainly dangerous because he is always plotting something, and he thinks too much. This ends up foreshadowing for events later in the tragedy. Shakespeare wants us to know that the way we portray ourselves is not the way other individuals see us. Additionally, people can persuade other humans that you are not who you really are. Furthermore, the use of rhetoric is one of the biggest weapons of the plotters because they use it to justify the murder of Caesar, and why it is grand that he is now dead.
The conspirators use their persuasive techniques to convince Brutus to join them in the plot to kill Caesar.

For example, Brutus wants to protect the Roman Republic, just like his ancestors, but he does not believe killing Caesar will help him become closer to his goal of saving Rome like his friends think. The plotters are longing for Brutus to join them before Caesar obtains too much power because they are convinced he will turn against Rome. Brutus believes Caesar will always remain loyal to his hometown because he has done so much for it and the people. As Brutus talks to himself, he realizes that he knows “no personal cause to spurn at him” (II.1.11). Even though his “friends” want him to help kill the ruler, he has no reason to put an end to his life because Caesar has done nothing wrong. Brutus is torn whether or not to stab Caesar, and he mentions how this decision has kept him awake all night. Brutus also uses his persuasion skills on the conspirators so they do not totally “destroy” Caesar. For instance, Cassius suggests the idea to cut off Caesar’s head, arms, and legs, and to kill Antony right near Caesar. Brutus suddenly comes up with excuses on why chopping Caesar up and only stabbing Antony will seem suspicious to the public. It will seem as if they are killing Caesar out of anger and Antony out of envy. Brutus has no purpose in killing Caesar, but he tells the group that killing both of them boldly and not wrathfully will “make our purpose necessary and not

envious” (II.1.191). To make a logical point, he tells the murderers that if they kill Caesar and not Antony, Antony will most likely want to die for Caesar, so there is no need to fear him. To the conspirators, this justifies why killing Caesar is more necessary than going after Antony. Brutus is finally persuaded by the murderers, and the murderers are persuaded by him, and they do not end up following through with their plan to kill Antony. Brutus must go to Caesar’s funeral to win over the crowd and to justify the killing of Caesar, and Antony has to make sure the public people do not believe a word Brutus is saying. Nevertheless, Brutus cares about Caesar’s life, but clearly not as much as the Republic, so he must use facts to justify the murder of Caesar and to persuade the public why it is logical to kill their ruler.
Brutus’s funeral speech for Caesar consists of a lot of logos as well as rhetorical questions to win over the crowd, and to inveigle them. For example, Brutus tells the commoners that he is crestfallen about Caesar’s death, even though he ends up stabbing him ruthlessly. Caesar is under the impression that Brutus will remain loyal to him, but he is proven wrong when Brutus is the last one to stab him. Brutus brings back the idea of him saving the Republic when he tells that crowd that, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (III.2.23-24). To the commoners, it will seem as if Brutus cares so much about Rome, he is willing to take big risks to save it from ambitious leaders. Throughout his speech, he constantly asks the crowd if they love their country, and if they do, than they would be willing, just like he was, to take a leap of faith to protect their beloved hometown. After Brutus wraps up his speech, the indecisive public is persuaded to have Brutus as their heir to Caesar. Their opinion changes rapidly as Antony begins to speak about Caesar. Antony’s speech is filled with emotion and pathos to prove to the crowd why the murder of Caesar cannot be justified. For instance, Antony’s opening word is, “friends.” This helps him establish a better and more personal connection with the crowd. He states how he has come to the funeral to bury Caesar, and not praise him, but throughout his entire speech, he brings up all the beneficial things Caesar does for Rome. Such as, he declines the crown three times, and as soon as the crowd hears this, they are convinced Caesar is not as ambitious as Brutus says he is in his speech. Antony rallies up the commoners by telling them he has Caesar’s will, and the all the people want to hear it, but Antony says he cannot read it because it will vex them. They beg him to read it continuously, and he finally subjects to it. He tells them that Brutus’ cut “was the most unkindest cut of all” (III.2.195). He uses Caesar’s words to go against Brutus, and to show the commoners that Brutus will never love Caesar as much as he does. The technique of peripeteia is used in this circumstance because Brutus realizes he should never trust Antony’s word, and the plotters’ status goes from the future leaders of Rome to people craving to murder them. Antony finally persuades the crowd that killing Caesar is wrong because Caesar is always willing to help improve Rome. Rhetoric is used in both arguments to win over the crowd to agree with either Antony or Brutus, but in the end, Antony’s emotion-filled speech wins the hearts of the crowd. Nonetheless, the public sees Antony as the noblest man in Rome, and they want to kill every traitor who goes against Caesar.
Caesar recognizes Cassius as a potential threat in his life and in his role as king.

For example, Caesar tries to persuade Antony that Cassius is very dangerous to be around because he is too thin, and he thinks too much. To Caesar, Cassius’ appearance shows that he is not comfortable with what he has, and he can turn the tables at any moment. Caesar tells Antony that Cassius has a “lean and hungry look” (I.2.204), but Antony does not see anything wrong with him because he believes Cassius is a noble Roman. To Caesar, such men are dangerous because they are always thinking about revenge, and they are always hungry to get someone back. Since Antony does not believe Caesar’s claims, Caesar stops worrying about Cassius as well because he realizes he is not able to persuade Antony to agree with him. This event is foreshadowing Caesar’s murder, and is ironic because Cassius is the leader of the plot to murder him. For instance, this is ironic that Antony does not think Cassius is dangerous because Cassius not only wants to assassinate Caesar, but he persuades the conspirators to attack Antony as well. Cassius says that he fears Antony “for the engrafted love he bears to Caesar” (II.1.198). If Caesar does not listen to Antony’s opinion of Cassius not being dangerous, he can prevent his murder. Just like in real life, what Shakespeare is trying to say is, that it is normal to second guess yourself because somebody thinks differently. As Caesar is trying to persuade Antony that

Cassius is dangerous, Antony is trying to convince Caesar he is not threatening because he is a noble Roman. Still, persuasion plays a big role in Caesar’s death.
The use of persuasion throughout this tragedy proves who will remain loyal to Caesar, it helps Caesar’s friend, Antony, justify why the murder is unnecessary, and helps Caesar try to convince Antony that Cassius is a suspicious character. Persuasion is used in daily life to try to help someone convince another person that their side of the argument is right, or to get someone to do something that they want to do. Sometimes persuading someone to do something bad will cause consequences later on, just like what happens to Cassius later on in the play. The use of persuasion is used continuously throughout the tragedy to help move the story along, and it definitely helps the characters try to justify the killing of Caesar. To conclude, it is human nature to judge a book by its cover because of what people say about that person, just like Caesar does to Cassius, and persuasion is a part of everyday life.