The Authority of Words

920 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: julius caesar a tragic drama

The Authority of Words

In the tragic play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Antony uses the power of words as a tactic to skillfully persuade the people that Caesar’s death was unjustified. Caesar has been killed by the conspiracy because they thought he was too powerful to be kept alive. His most loyal friend Antony makes a speech in order to persuade the Romans the murder the conspiracy committed was wrong. He uses several techniques to captivate the audience and change their view on Caesar’s death. Antony uses ethos, logos, and pathos to convince his audience that Brutus and the conspiracy had no right to assassinate Caesar.

Antony uses ethos throughout his speech to verify the credibility of Brutus’s opinions and to pacify the audience. An appeal to ethos is an appeal to appear credible to the audience. Antony introduces his speech by saying, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” (III.ii.82-83). He welcomes the Romans as his friends, which puts them at ease and makes them want to listen to what he has to say. Antony tells the audience that he did not come to talk about the achievements of Caesar and that allows the Romans to listen without knowing that he is trying to persuade them into thinking that Caesar was not an ambitious person. By using the word “friends” it makes them think that Antony is respectable and they can trust what he is saying. After Antony told the audience that Brutus

said Caesar was ambitious, he goes on to verify Brutus’s opinion by reiterating that, “Brutus is an honorable man; / So are they all, all honorable men-” (III.ii.91-92). This leads the people to think that he respects Brutus, even though he is disagreeing with him, and i...

... middle of paper ...

...im without a cause. Through the use of pathos, the audience is captivated and they are able to see the pain that Antony is going through, which creates an image that Caesar was killed for an unnecessary cause.

Convincing his audience that Brutus and the conspiracy were unjust by murdering Caesar, Antony uses ethos, logos, and pathos. In his speech, Antony tactically sways the public to see his side of the argument and to take revenge for the brutal murder of his beloved friend Caesar. Many people, especially lawyers, study his speech today to analyze why Antony was persuasive to his audience. Throughout the world, individuals continue to mimic the tactics of ethos, logos, and pathos in their arguments to create a more solid and believable case.

Works Cited
Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Julius Caesar.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 25 Jan. 2010.

Show More
Related

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    384 Words  | 1 Pages

    In his play Julius Caesar, Shakespeare employs various rhetorical strategies such as direct address, repetition, and apostrophe in Antony’s eulogy to convince the crowd into believing that Caesar was a good ruler. His excellent use of rhetoric begins before he starts his speech through the establishment of familiarity. Before Antony begins his speech, he refers to the crowd as “friends, romans, [and] countrymen” to establish a personal connection, indicating the use of direct address (3.2.82). By referring to the crowd as “friends,” Antony removes any separation between him and the audience, establishing a close bond by choice. As it came first on his list, it emphasizes the importance of his friendship with the audience as friendship implies

    Read More

  • Brutus Ethos In Julius Caesar

    292 Words  | 1 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus is a skillful orator who makes use of rhetorical devices to convey his points. In his speech made after the death of Caesar, Brutus uses devices such as ethos, parallelism, and rhetorical questions to persuade the people to his way of thinking. Ethos is when a speaker gives an example of credibility in order to appeal to the listener’s ethics. When Brutus asks the people to “believe me for mine honor, and have respect for mine honor” (3.2.14-15), he is using ethos to appeal to their morals in order to make them consider his opinions. The use of ethos exhibits Brutus’ need for the people to approve of him, and by extension, the assassination of Caesar. Later, Brutus utilizes parallelism

    Read More

  • Comparing the Speeches of Mark Antony and Robert F. Kennedy

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mark Antony’s speech, whose aim is to counter Brutus’ speech, enlightens the crowd on the unjust murder of Caesar. Though he never directly communicates to the crowd of his feeling towards the conspirators, Antony was able to effectively convey to the crowd, through the use of verbal irony and other stylistic devices/techniques in his speech, his true views of the assassination. Moreover, Antony was able to shrewdly emphasize his belief of the undeserved assassination of Caesar through the wide use of epiphoral and anaphoral structure in his speech. Antony emphasizes the wrongdoings of Brutus and Cassius through the ingenious use of the epistrophe along with verbal irony as he notes that “I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong” (III, ii, 125). Moreover, he stresses the importance of punishi...

    Read More

  • Brutus vs Antony

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brutus vs Antony The most predominate and important aspect in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare are the speeches given to the Roman citizens by Brutus and Antony, the two main characters, following the death of Caesar. Brutus and Antony both spoke to the crowd, using the same rhetorical devices to express their thoughts. Both speakers used the three classical appeals employed in the speeches: ethos, which is an appeal to credibility; pathos, which is an appeal to the emotion of the audience; and logos, which is an appeal to the content and arrangement of the argument itself. Even though both speeches have the same structure, Antony’s speech is significantly more effective than Brutus’s. Both speakers used an ethical appeal to the crowd and established their credibility.

    Read More

  • The Assassination of Julius Caesar by Marcus Brutus

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the account, “The Assassination of Julius Caesar”, written by Marcus Brutus, does not much speak on Caesar himself but by the will of so many whom conspired against him gives the impression that Caesar was seen by the majority as a “selfish dictator”. Although is seems as though he was not thought of in high regard...

    Read More

  • Visions of Caesar, Antony Saw Him Trueh

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Opposed to Antony’s logical view, Brutus’ controversial and slightly skewed portrayal of Caesar shows that he was an ambitious ruler who would have soon turned into a tyrant. In his private thoughts, Brutus sees Caesar as having fallen to the common proof that upon climbing the ladder of ambition, he forgot to remember those below him. In his funeral speech, Brutus attempts to show Caesar’s ambition ; He also tries to demonstrate his love of Rome by depicting his killing of Caesar as an honorable deed. Brutus charges Caesar with becoming too ambitious, and in his speech he questions all men if they would “Rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (3.2.1556-1558). Brutus thus equates Caesar to a serpent in the egg, whom, at the moment is not dangerous, but Caesar’s ambition will soon turn him into a dangerous creature that is much more difficult to control. While Brutus does not disrespect any of Caesar’s other qualities, he believes that he rightfully...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antony also played on the people’s greed, to influence them to his side. “I found it in his closet; ‘tis his will/and they would go kiss Caesar’s dead wounds…” (III, ii, 129, 132-133). Antony is very smart in the way he does this. He knows how to talk to the people to get them to believe his side of the story and revenge Caesar’s death. Likewise, Antony is conniving. He uses this strength by flattering Brutus, and falsely befriending the conspirators into letting him speak at Caesar’s funeral. “I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand.” (III, i, 200-201). Antony presents his case in such a way that Brutus and the other conspirators think that he is on their side, when in fact he really is going to turn the common people against them to revenge Caesar’s death by creating a war. Furthermore, Brutus is an honorable man giving him the chance to be a great leader. Brutus is an idealist man, who is optimistic about assassinating Caesar. “Grant that, and then is death a benefit. So are we Caesar’s f...

    Read More

  • Brutus and Antony’s Use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    Persuasion is a very powerful weapon even against the most stoic of people. In the Tragedy, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Cassius, a high class politician with bad intentions persuades Brutus, an honorable, stoic high class politician and Casca to kill Caesar for the good of Rome, however, Cassius’ real goal is to get rid of Caesar because Caesar doesn’t like him. After killing Caesar, Brutus and Antony, Caesar closest friend, make speeches at his funeral in order to persuade the public. Cassius, Brutus and Antony’s use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in order to persuade the public, Casca, and Brutus shows that anyone can be persuaded by appealing to their emotions, motivations, and personalities.

    Read More

  • Brutus' Rhetorical Strategies: Ethos, Pathos and Logos

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his speech, Brutus appeals to the loyalism of his audience by making intertwining arguments of ethos, pathos, and logos. He begins by establishing his ethos by asserting his status as an honorable fellow Roman worthy of their respect. He expands on this ethos by dividing it into three parts: his love of Caesar, his loyalty to Rome, and his relationship to his audience. Brutus tells his audience that he was a “dear friend” to the man he murdered, invoking a pathetic sense of sympathy from his audience. However, as he says himself, it was “not that [he] loved Caesar less, but that [he] loved Rome more,” strengthening his ethos as a loyal countryman with the interests of his audience at heart. After establishing an emotional connection to his audience and earning their trust, Brutus explains his logic

    Read More

  • Comparison of the Two Speeches in Julius Caesar

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, two speeches are given to the people of Rome about Caesar's death. In Act 3, Scene 2 of this play Brutus and Antony both try to sway the minds of the Romans toward their views. Brutus tried to make the people believe he killed Caesar for a noble cause. Antony tried to persuade the people that the conspirators committed an act of brutality toward Caesar and were traitors. The effectiveness and ineffectiveness of both Antony's and Brutus's speech to the people are conveyed through tone and rhetorical devices.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antony asks rhetorical questions and lets the audience answer for themselves. Brutus uses ethos by stating that he a noble man and that is why the people should believe him but infact Antony questions his nobility by saying what Brutus said,” Brutus is an honourable man”(III.ii.79). In a way, Antony states what Brutus states to convince the audience by using examples that Brutus is wrong. Antony himself knows what kind of man Brutus is but lets the people figure it out on their own. In addition, Brutus uses logos by expressing that fact that Caesar died because of his ambition. This argument is severely under supported because his reasons are invalid and simply observations. Antony uses “did this in Caesar seem ambitious” to question Brutus’ argument (III.ii.82). Antony gives examples backing his argument like when Caesar refused the crown thrice to prove his humbleness. The way Antony convinces the people to rebel is by using pathos. He brings the audience in by stepping down to their level and showing them the body of Caesar. While Antony talks at Caesar's funeral, he pauses because” heart us in the coffin there with Caesar “(III.ii.98). When Antony becomes emotional, he reminds the audience about what injust event happened to the much loved

    Read More

  • Use of Rhetorical Appeals in Julius Caesar: Brutus vs Antony

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus and Antony attempt to persuade the audience of their position on the death of Caesar. While Brutus explains that his death was necessary, Antony claims that Caesar was not deserving of his demise. However, though Brutus does have ample credibility and taps into the emotional link with his audience to some extent, he does not convey as powerful of an argument as Antony, as he fails to provide sufficient factual evidence. Antony, on the other hand, utilizes logical argumentation with solid evidence, creates an emotional connection with his audience, and maintains credibility in order to support his own argument. Through this, it can be seen that Antony’s use of rhetorical appeals and devices is superior to Brutus’s in its ability to persuade the Roman audience.

    Read More

  • The Diction Of Mark Antony In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, Antony says a general statement that, “the evil that men do lives after them” (III.ii.74), when in fact he is subtly and sneeringly referring to the conspirators actions. The Roman commoners don’t realize that this general statement is swaying them, but the rest of Antony’s speech further convinces them of the evil the conspirators have done. Later, Antony talks about Brutus says that “sure, [he] is an honourable man” (III.ii.98), emphasis on the sure. Because he uses a scornful tone while sarcastically saying this statement, he is really beginning to show the audience his true feelings on the situation. Knowing that even Antony bitterly disagrees with the choices of the conspirators, it further persuades the common people of Rome to turn against Brutus and the rest of Caesar’s murderers. These occasions show Antony’s sour tone, especially towards the conspirators, and Antony’s tone also riles up the Roman citizens. His tone helps to exasperate the commoners with Caesar’s murder, and therefore assists Antony in achieving his purpose to manipulate the audience to turn against

    Read More

  • Mark Antony's Speech from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    2765 Words  | 6 Pages

    Mark Antony's Speech from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Mark Antony’s funeral oration over the body of Julius Caesar in act three, scene two is the most important speech in the play and effects the development of the play as a whole in many ways. Firstly this speech falls in the play where we have seen Antony’s distraught reaction to the murder of Caesar and his letter vowing allegiance to Brutus in return for being able to live. Act three, scene one prepares us for Antony’s rhetoric as here he states that ‘Brutus is noble, wise, valiant and honest’ which fits in with him repeatedly stating ‘Brutus is an honourable man’. It becomes evident in this scene that Antony has an ulterior motive for forming this allegiance and asking to do the funeral oration when he is ‘swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar’ and then states that ‘friends am I with you all, and love you all’ but still wants to know ‘why and wherein Caesar was dangerous’. Thus we the audience are aware that Antony is not being honest with the conspirators especially when he speaks in a soliloquy of the anarchy he will create when he states ‘blood and destruction shall be so in use…that mothers shall but smile when they behold/

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Mark Antony in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

    816 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare is the story of the assassination of Julius Caesar. Two speeches were made after his death, one being by Mark Antony. He uses many rhetorical devices in this speech to counter the previous speech and persuade the crowd that the conspirators who killed Caesar were wrong. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion and these many devices strengthen this by making points and highlighting flaws. Antony uses many rhetorical devices, all of which are used to persuade the crowd that the conspirators are wrong and Caesar did not need to be killed.

    Read More

More about The Authority of Words

Open Document