To what extent has textual form shaped your understanding of conflicting perspectives? In any text, conflicting perspectives of events, characters and situations create interest and textual complexities. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is an example of a text that is built heavily upon conflicting perspectives, using Caesar’s historic assassination as a catalyst for the exploration of the qualities of leadership and strength. Through a number of monologues and speeches, Shakespeare constructs varied perceptions of a number of important characters and events which highlight the complexities of human nature. Through these conflicting perspectives, the textual form of Julius Caesar creates greater interaction with the audience.
In contrast to Brutus , Antony speaks to the plebians as if they are his equals . He respects their intelligence to understand a speech given in verse . In a roundabout manner , he needs to use rhetoric to 1) make the people doubt brutus's honor and excuses . 2) to stir pity and increase the achievements of caesar and to 3) incite the crown into mutiny . He starts out by adressing them as "friends" because he wants to come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to get power .
Cassius exclaims to be a “insupportable and touching loss,” shows that Brutus was wrong to kill Caesar, when even Portia, believes that taking her own life is the only way out. Brutus proves that even he felt that the assassination was unjustified. Shakespeare shows this when Brutus gets into an argument with Cassius about, “we now/ contaminate our fingers with base bribes.” A reason why Brutus killed Caesar was that he was corrupting the government and gaining power. This proves that killing Caesar is not bad, because Caesar’s corrupt ways appear in Cassius. Lastly, Brutus finally realizes that the assassination wasn’t right at the end of the play.
Rease May Mrs.Clark/Mrs.Taylor English II Dec 10. 2013 Rhetorical Strategy Here Julius Caesar’s cold body lay. The great Caesar has been slain by his “loyal” friends. Brutus tries to explain that the death of Caesar was for the good of Rome because he became too ambitious while Antony tries to explain subtlety that Caesar was not ambitious and that it was the conspirator’s ambition that had slain Caesar. Both Brutus and Antony delivered great eulogies to Caesar, but Marc Antony’s was more persuasive to the crowds of Rome.
This is emphasised in the funeral eulogies of Brutus and Antony. Brutus in his funeral eulogy is aiming at the reason and the logic of the Roman public in order to justify his actions. This is evident in his use of Locus read throughout his speech; the use of rhetorical questions is aimed solely so that no one can disagree in fear of being seen as a traitor of Rome. In his opening line “Romans, countrymen and lovers” the facing of Romans as the first word highlights what Brutus believes in – the democracy and the republic of Rome. This is deliberately aimed at showing the public his honour and that he will do anything for Rome “I loved Caesar but I love Rome more” the use of the emotive language and the repetition of love further highlight this.
In a scene in act 4 scene 3, Brutus says “Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?” to which Cassius replies “bait not me, / I’ll not endure it... I am a soldier... abler than yourself”. This dialogue gives the audience a perception of Cassius as a braver and nobler man than Brutus and validates his non-existent fear of Caesar and his death; boldly stating “When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me”. In the previous scene where Brutus and Cassius first confront each other, the imagery in the quote “When love begins to sicken and decay/It useth an enforced ceremony” shows that the argument between Brutus and Cassius seems to arise partially from a misunderstanding but also partially from stubbornness. Though Brutus claims that his honour forbids him from raising money in unscrupulous ways, he would still use such money as long as it was not he himself, but rather Cassius who raised it.
As a tragic hero, Brutus maintains noble intentions throughout the play. Grabbing at any opportune moment, Brutus desirably protects the Roman Republic from becoming corrupt and ruled by dictatorship. Cassius and other conspirators felt that Caesar’s ambition and tyrannical ruling reflects upon a dangerous outcome for future Rome. Persuaded by Cassius’s hatred of Caesar’s immediate gain in power and acknowledgement, Brutus constructs a plan for the assassination of Caesar. He greatly fears that “the people// [will] choose Caesar for their king” (I.ii.78-79).
In the play, Brutus and Antony are the major contributors on the battle of honour, both using it is as a ploy to gain the support of the people of Rome and to accentuate their own honourable qualities. The funerary speeches are the point in the play where the audiences view is altered to be seen more from Antony’s point of view. Brutus initiates his speech utilising humility, intimacy and emotive language as key concepts to persuade his audience regarding the justification of Caesar’s assassination, where as Antony instantly uses flattery, moving into sarcasm and rhetorical question to sway the Roman crowd and audience into believing that Brutus’ acts were not done out of honour – an act which within itself is
Brian Villanueva Miss Sanchez Honors English 4, Period 1 14 June 2013 Perspectives on the Death of Julius Caesar On rare occasions people try to use their power of speech in order to persuade others into thinking a certain way. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, both Brutus and Antony speak of the justice and injustice Julius Caesar’s death in his funeral. While Brutus’ motives were said to be for the god of Rome, Antony’s were to incite the crowd. Although both men used rhetorical devices to persuade the crowd Antony’s speech had more effect on the mob or people. Brutus did indeed confess to the murder of Julius Caesar, but he said that he did it for the benefit of the roman people.
Brutus speaks on prose, presenting Caesar as a person who put himself before his people. “…as he was valiant I honour him, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” the use of contradicting binary opposite ideas supports Brutus’ portrayal of a man of ambition. When Antony speaks on the occasion after Caesars assassination to the crowd of Romans he speaks in verse,(in contrast to Brutus who speaks in prose, making Antony appear more educated and knowing)states, “I am no orator...-as you know me all- a plain blunt man that loved my friend.” Antony belittles his influential and powerful position within the Roman Empire to identify with being a “plain blunt man.” This use of