Compare and Contrast Essay for Julius Caesar William Shakespeare penned two of the most famous funeral speeches ever written. Marcus Brutus aimed to persuade his audience that he and his conspirators had good reason to kill Julius Caesar. Mark Antony, speaking second, convinced the crowd that they wronged the beloved Caesar. Brutus and Antony used the rhetorical strategies of rhetorical question, parallel structure, and epistrophe; however Antony’s use of epistrophe was the most effective. Both Mark Antony and Marcus Brutus used the rhetorical question to persuade the crowd that their thoughts were correct.
He was, arguably, ell bent on a path of war, not the type to hesitate to take what he wanted by force. Caesar had crushed Pompey, another supposedly honorable man, as well as his army. He was also of the “falling sickness” or epilepsy, and this would have inhibited his abilities as a tactful and empowering ruler of Rome. Even Marc Antony and Octavius, Caesar’s closest friend and his nephew, had considered Brutus an honorable Roman in the end, to the point of housing his lifeless body within Octavius’ tent, a standard only for the bravest of
This essay will examine these questions and illustrate the justification of Marcus Brutus betraying and killing Julius Caesar. Marcus Brutus is sometimes considered to be a “tragic hero” because of the role he played in the assassination of Caesar, the tragedy of his father’s death and the outcome of his choices in life. Looking into the underlying flaws within the tragic hero reviles a trustworthy nature which inhibits his ability to judge the character of others. Plutarch described Brutus as a marvelous lowly and gentle person, noble minded, and would never be in any rage, nor carried away with pleasure and covetousness; but had an upright mind and would never yield to any wrong or injustice. Brutus' tragic flaw is that he is nationalistic, very gullible, and is too honest.
Caesar was so ambitious that it wasn’t good for high power. Brutus said, “If then that a friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is the answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more… as Caesar loved me, I weep for him” (3.2.21-26). This shows that Brutus did it for the people and not for himself. Brutus was saddened to see his friend fall dead, but there was no other choice; Caesar was the ambitious person. He would only try to win the crowd and use them for his own good.
His reasoning for killing Caesar was the fact that Caesar was too ambitious. Although this was a good reason it was all an assumption and he gave no evidence on how Caesar was ambitious. Although Brutus did hypothetical situations to the countrymen to convince them further that Caesar could of became a tyrant. For the love of Rome is why Brutus murdered Caesar and that convinced the people that there was no man nobler than Brutus. He had won them over until Antony began his speech.
The audience is initially memorized by the Brutus they love, and are grateful for the ‘honorable acts’ he committed. This element of coercion helps him achieve his intentions of blindsiding the people to all aspects of the truth. But no worries, Brutus’ kind friend Antony will be sure uncover all and nothing but the truth for the commoners to second guesses Brutus’ words. 2nd Textual Quotation: “If, then, that friend demands to know why I rose up against Caesar, this is my answer: it’s not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?...Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman?
Antony was the person who instigated the war. If they had killed him, he would not have had the chance to turn the people against the conspirators. Another mistake Brutus made, was that he allowed Antony to speak in Caesar's funeral. When the conspirators were discussing it, Cassius thought it to be a bad idea, but Brutus, as naive and trusting as he is, said yes, but only as long as Antony let him speak first and promised not to say anything bad about them. When they left, Antony, in his soliloquy, spoke of revenge.
This fools Brutus into thinking he can trust Antony, so he allows him to give a funeral speech over the body of Caesar to a large crowd of Roman citizens. Brutus foolishly assumes that the Roman citizens will listen and heed his words because they were full of truth and reason. He explains to the crowd the reason why he assassinated their much respected leader, saying, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Shakespeare 681). Brutus insists that Caesar was a great man, but he was also ambitious. Brutus doesn’t want the Romans to be slaves under Caesar’s leadership.
Initially, Brutus was a man for the people who did what he believed was necessary. Cassius had forced Brutus into thinking that Caesar was in fact ambitious, Brutus believed him and thought that by murdering Caesar, it would save the lives of the Roman people in the long run. Whereas many of the conspirators killed Caesar because they feared the possibility of him becoming too powerful, Brutus killed him so the people could someday live freely. Brutus loved Caesar dearly, in yet he still had the Roman people in his heart as his first priority. Additionally, Brutus died for his people.
He appeals to their emotions by saying that his love to Caesar was no less than that of any dear friend of Caesar’s and that he did this “not that I loved Caesar less but that I loved Rome more. Through this he wants to show that he did not kill Caesar out a jealous rage but rather he did it for the better of the Roman people. This is effective in bringing a solid reasoning to his seemingly crazed killing. Brutus now continues by suggesting that if Caesar were to live they would all become slaves. He questions if anybody there “is so base that would