Antony has skillful ways to help him convince the Romans that Caesar was a loving man and Brutus is not so honorable. He uses verbal irony, parallel phrases with repetition, and questioning of the truth to sway the crowds' feelings. When giving his speech, Antony uses his skill as an orator through the use of verbal irony. Antony tells the Romans that Brutus called Caesar ambitious. That is only what was said; he was not a man of ambition.
This rhetorical question goes against Brutus by questioning his speech in which he so greatly demonized Caesar. Now the crowd is starting to turn against Brutus in favor of Antony. The audience question themselves. This in turn makes them question what Brutus once told them. ?Perhaps Brutus manipulated us to make us think along his lines?, they may have questioned.
Caesar is portrayed as an ambition man, who was very narcissistic. When it came to mark Antony, he was personal and mordant. Antony tried and shielded Caesar’s reputation, but at the same time charged at Brutus to make him sound guilty. Though both are convincing speakers, Antony persuades the mob to sympathize with him, appealing to the audience’s emotion as well as their rationality. In Mark Antony’s speech, we see that he is already a man distrusted by the conspirators for his friendship with Caesar.
Granted that during the speech, Antony presents, results in controversy between the crowd and conspirators, “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Brutus says he was ambitious us, And Brutus is an honorable man” (3, 2, 90-93).. Antony states that Caesar is not ambitious. While the poor cried Caesar is mourning with them, this the false interpretation of an ambitious man. Brutus does not presume that Antony will be dangerous to the conspirators.
Antony’s desire to exclude Lepidus from the power that Antony and Octavius intend to share hints at his own ambitious nature. Antony proves strong in all of the ways that Brutus proves weak. His impulsive, improvisatory nature serves him perfectly, first to persuade the conspirators that he is on their side, thus gaining their leniency, and then to persuade the plebeians of the conspirators’ injustice, thus gaining the masses’ political support. Not too scrupulous to stoop to deceit and duplicity, as Brutus claims to be, Antony proves himself a consummate politician, using gestures and skilled rhetoric to his advantage. He responds to subtle cues among both his nemeses and his allies to know exactly how he must conduct himself at each particular moment in order to gain the most advantage.
(ll. 87-89). He asks the people if they consider this ambitious, obviously implying it was not, because Caesar's deeds were for the good of Rome, not for Caesar himself. This art of persuasion is able to move the mob. All at once, they discard "noble Brutus" and listen to Antony who is a "plain blunt man".
Brutus repeatedly says, “If any, speak, for him have I offended,” (III.ii.25). Brutus’ tactic is to try to force someone, or dare them, to disagree with him, which no one ends up doing. Brutus tries to make people fear him, which works for a brief period of time. Mark Antony, on the other hand, goes on the attack, rather than the defense, by repeatedly saying, “Yet Brutus said he was ambitious; And… he is an honourable man.” (III.ii.89-90). By going on the offensive side, Mark Antony uses the repetition of this extreme usage of irony and sarcasm to make the audience understand that all of this is Brutus’ fault and that he should be punished for his crimes, no matter his intentions.
Brutus simply thinks the good of people, not ever wondering if he does one action, if the other person might retaliate. He let himself get fooled by Mark Antony’s manipulation of words which made Brutus to trust Mark Antony even more. Because of this, he trusted him enough to let him speak in front of the Roman Citizens. This is never a good idea when a person is debating; it is more opportune to go second so you can counter the other person’s argument
This play illustrates how important honesty and persuasion in an attempt to win over the people. Coriolanus attempts and fails to win over the people due to his failure to truly persuade Rome to view him as a worthy leader of their community while this sets the tone for Brutus and Sicinius to use their manipulative nature to win over the populous. Coriolanus’ lack of communication skills is his fatal flaw allowing more persuasive figures to take advantage of the opportunity and sway the people of Rome proving that honor and noble acts by themselves are not enough to grab and hold the support of the general
Persuasion in Julius Caesar was an indispensable factor in the play. From Decius’s sly flattery to Antony’s significantly impressive speech to the commoners, many different ways of persuasion were used in Julius Caesar. Its power was demonstrated through eloquence between Brutus and Antony to the commoners at Caesar’s funeral. As a result of their speech, Antony succeeds to appeal to their emotional feelings, he swayed them to think conspiracy can’t be justified and makes them go against the conspirators. Cassius and Brutus failed to justify their conspiracy which gave Antony a precious chance to gain the crowd’s trust.