Powerful Words In The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

Isn’t it simply amazing how a simple word or group of words can be the deciding factor in whether or not you successfully win over a crowd? Sometimes a few cleverly used words and phrases can be more powerful than a thousand words. In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare demonstrates just how powerful words are and everything that can change just from how cleverly a person uses their words.

Immediately following the brutal assassination of Caesar, two men in Rome come forward to deliver eulogies. Brutus has an amazing reputation among the people of Rome which automatically gives him advantage because with good reputation comes trust. However, writer Heller think that “Brutus is a self-righteous man, pompous,

In ending his eulogy, Brutus stated that he “[Has done no more to Caesar than [they] shall do to [him]” (III.ii.26). Brutus is trying to persuade the people of Rome that he does not deserve to die for what he has done to Caesar. Caesar “ Suffered death”(III.ii.29) because he was ambitious and Brutus believes that ambition is a sickness. This definitely leaves the crowd pondering because of course, ambition is a negative trait and they would not want to live under the rule of a person who was ambitious. Antony tells the people that “[He] does not speak to disprove what Brutus spoke”(III.ii.27). This was clever because he is making the people feel comfortable and not as if they have to choose between two people. Marc Antony pulls yet another clever trick on the crowd by indirectly making them feel guilty for praising Brutus. He cleverly reminds the citizens of Rome how they once “[Loved Caesar] without cause”(III.ii.29) and he makes them feel guilty by asking “ What cause with holds you then to mourn for [Caesar]?”( III.ii.29-30). Mark Antony also had more than just cleverly played words to back up his logic and his opinion. He had props. When Antony entered to give his speech, he entered with Caesar’s dead body and this really moves the audience because it taps into their emotional senses especially when he tells them that his “ Heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and [he] must pause till it come back to [him]” (III.ii.34). Marc Antony also draws up a fake will to support his words and all of the arguments that he made. Professor Maisano assumes that “One might wish to fantasize here that Antony is merely inventing the contents of the will , which only he sees” (Maisano 161-170) because Marc Antony made up all of the contents of the will and this is especially convenient for Antony because the people of Rome