Though Brutus and Antony had the same rhetorical strategies, Antony’s speech was more effective in winning over the audience. Brutus and Antony both used the strategy of ethos, the image and character that they portray to the audience. Brutus started off his speech with “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.” (126).
In the first line of his speech, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” (Line 1), he is building a connection with the crowd, letting them know that he is one of them, their friend, and that they are all part of the great country of Rome. His speech is aimed at the hearts and minds of the audience, trying to turn their hatred of this now dead leader upon his murderers, Brutus and the other conspirators. As he goes further into his speech he uses repetition, another form of pathos, to persuade the audience against Brutus, saying this such as, “But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man” (Lines 1415), and, “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?” He is destroying the credibility of Brutus in the minds of the people, thus making all that was said in Brutus’ speech seem untrue, or
Rhetorical Strategies in Julius Caesar In Julius Caesar, Antony and Brutus deliver two speeches, both of which are driven by three rhetorical devices; ethos, logos and pathos. Though both were able to use the rhetorical strategies effectively, Antony’s speech ended up above both. Antony and Brutus, Begin with establishing their credibility first. Brutus breaks into ethos by talking about his honor, he tells the plebeians to keep his honor in mind. He also lets everyone know that Caesar was “ambitious” and he had to “slew” him because of it.
Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Julius Caesar Brutus and Antony both use emotional appeal, a self image, and logic to extract pity and anger among the audience in their speeches, however Antony spoke 2nd, allowing him to easily counter Brutus’ arguments with logic, logos. Brutus, an honorable, loyal citizen of Rome that is highly respected by the town speaks with his honorable self image, logic and emotion to compete for the crowd’s favor. Brutus, having a high reputation for being trustworthy, uses his image, ethos to his advantage. “Believe me on my honor and keep my honor in mind, so you may believe me.” (3,2 pg.127). Right away, the crowd is moved by Brutus’ speech and is immediately on Brutus’ side.
Both Brutus and Antony delivered great eulogies to Caesar, but Marc Antony’s was more persuasive to the crowds of Rome. Although both Mac Antony and Brutus used logical arguments to persuade the crowds of Rome, Antony’s eulogy caught the crowd’s attention more effectively. As Antony explains “you all did see at the Lupercal I presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition” (citation). Antony here in his eulogy is trying to explain was nothing near too ambitious if he would refuse a crown three times. Antony is befuddled that
These words soft pity in the chief inspire, Touch’d with the dear remembrance of his sire. Then with his hand (as prostrate still he lay) The old man’s cheek he gently turn’d away. Now each by turns indulged the gush of woe; And now the mingled tides together flow: This low on earth, that gently bending o’er, A father one, and one a son deplore: But great Achilles different passions rend, And now his sire he mourns, and now his friend. Th’ infectious softness through the heroes ran; One universal solemn shower began; They bore as heroes, but they felt as man. XXIV.
JULIUS CEASAR Julius Ceasar was born in 100 BCE in Rome. Ceasar is an important because he done good work as the leader of Rome. Ceasar is a hero to many people and also was feared by many too. Ceasar was important to certain people who were mostly poor because he expanded the senate, created jobs for the poor, started colonies for people who didn’t own land so they can have land and he also increased the pay of soldiers. Ceasar was feared by most people because he went through wars like it was water.
Many of the conspirators kill Caesar out of envy and greed, while only Brutus did it out of love for Rome. Brutus follows the code of honor. Brutus betrays his friend, Julius Caesar, for the good of Rome. After the conspirators kill Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, and Antony make a funeral speech. Brutus says “With this I depart: that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself when it shall please my country to need my death.” (III, ii, Li.
No matter how good of a person they might still see you as a bad person. Maybe the best people will have a higher standard so people will want them to stay good and if they do, do something bad people will think even worse about them. Other people stabbed Caesar but Brutus was Caesar’s loyal friend that's why it was so devastating to the people. “Stoop, Romans, stoop, and let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood up to the elbows, and besmear our swords,” (Shakespeare, William, 3, 105-107). This quote shows that after a while Brutus was glad to kill Caesar even though he was Caesar’s best friend.
Shakespeare presents Antony as a highly complex character with two sides to his personality: a man hopelessly in love with the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, and a great military leader of the Roman Empire. However, these two contradictory personalities cannot exist harmoniously with one another, as Antony becomes more entangled with Egypt and Cleopatra his leadership status suffers. Thus, from a militaristic Roman perspective, Shakespeare portrays a decline in Antony from his high leadership status. To represent the decline of Antony, Shakespeare first presents to the audience his high status so that they may fully understand his decline. At many points during Act III Antony’s qualities of a great leader are dramatically demonstrated to the audience through framing- not through Antony’s dialogue or his actions, but through the way he is presented through how others speak of him.