Compare / Contrast, Mark Antony’s Speech / Brutus’s Speech

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Joey Bohn Compare / contrast, Mark Antony’s speech / Brutus’s speech ENG 2D Ms. Island May-29-12 There are many similarities and differences between the rhetorical devices used by mark Antony and Brutus in their speeches to the citizens of Rome. It’s important to know them because it shows that they’re against each other. One similarity in their speeches is their use of logical reasoning to persuade the citizens to look at the problem from their perspective. Brutus uses this when he says “as Caesar loved me, I wept him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (Act III, Scene 2, Line 25-29) This show that he cared for Caesar and that he needed to kill him even though he didn’t want to, and it makes the listener look at the problem from his perspective. Mark Antony use the same rhetoric when he said “you all did see that on the lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown which he did thrice refuse: was this ambitious yet Brutus says he was an ambitious man. And Brutus is an honorable man.”(Act III, Scene 2 Line 97-101) This use of logical reasoning makes the listeners look at the problem from the aspect of him and Brutus which can make them change their mind. Another similar device they used in there speech is the use of personal anecdotes. Brutus uses personal anecdotes when he says “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.”(Act III, Scene 2, line 46-48) this quote show how strong Brutus’s relationship was with Julius Caesar. This personal anecdote is used to evoke emotion in the listeners and to make them feel empathetic for him. Mark Antony also uses a personal anecdote in his speech to make the listeners feel empathetic for him. He uses it when he says “If you
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