Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

688 Words2 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony calls upon “Friends, Romans, [and] countrymen” to lend their ears to him in order to convince the populace of Rome to rise against the conspirators that had murdered him. The main conspirators, Casca, Cassius, and Brutus, portray Caesar as a tyrannical ruler with a terrible ambition for power and express that in killing Caesar, they have only done what is best for Rome. However, after indirectly dispelling Brutus’ claim that Caesar was ambitious, Mark Antony’s rhetoric persuades the auditors into a state of rebellion through his cunning use of language. Antony veils his words when speaking to the crowd of Romans because he is given permission to speak at the funeral on the one condition …show more content…

However, this is only after Brutus explains the reasons behind the assassination of Caesar. Brutus also states that he may do this on the condition that Antony does not display the Senators in a bad light. Although Antony agrees, he makes the most of his having the last word by masterfully delivering words that are meant to stir the crowd. He then progressively and repetitively mentions the terms honorable and ambition, which put both under the microscope for the plebians. Antony then begins work on persuading the crowd that Brutus was wrong in killing Caesar and that Caesar should actually be …show more content…

He then deceptively tells the crowd to “have patience” because he does not wish to “wrong the honorable men whose daggers have stabbed Caesar” in reading them the will. This portrays Antony as honorable amongst the people, as he does not wish to tear down the reputation of another man. When the crowd responds with shouts of “they were traitors. ‘Honorable’ men,” Antony knows he has them in the palm of his hand. It is then that Antony delivers the coup-de-grace by revealing to the crowd Caeser’s will, which promises, “every Roman citizen [...] seventy-five drachmas.” Unlike Brutus, Antony is more connected with the people of Rome in his speech. Rather than speaking logically and intellectually, Antony’s words come from a place of emotion and relatability, and in doing so establishes a sense of camaraderie with the

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

  • Supernatural Events In Macbeth Analysis

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antony also uses the power of his speech, similar to Cassius, to influence the plebeians of Rome by carefully structuring his words together and using various tones to appeal to the audience. Antony uses repetition, such as this quote, “I thrice presented him a kingly crown,/ Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?/Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,/And sure he is an honourable man.”(III.ii.94-97) Antony uses this repetition of giving evidence to the people of what Caesar’s characteristics were really like, showing them that Caesar was not as ambitious as Brutus said, and calling Brutus an honourable man. The repetition allows for the plebeians to realize the truth because of Antony’s multiple exposures of verification that Caesar was not ambitious and how Brutus and the other conspirators are at fault. It also influences the plebeians to believe that Brutus is not noble at all because of how deceitful he acts when justifying his causes to murder Caesar. Antony then says, “[...]Bear with me./My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,/and I must pause till it come back to me.”(III.ii.103-105). Antony indicates how close his relationship to Caesar and that he feels so heartbroken that he chokes up from all the overwhelming emotions he feels. The tone of his speech elicits sympathy from the plebeians due to the

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antony reminds the plebeians about the time when he, himself “presented [Caesar] a kingly crown, / Which [Caeasar] did thrice refuse” (III. ii. 97-98). Using logic and reasoning, Mark Antony explains to his crowd that the fallen Caesar couldn’t possibly have been ambitious if he had refused the ticket to become King multiple times. Immediately afterward, Antony made sure to remind the plebeians that Brutus is an honorable man. This use of logos with verbal irony proves to be extremely effective. Since Antony presented the crowd with a compelling fact supporting that Caesar was not ambitious, the phrase “Brutus is an honorable man,” would be even more effective in allowing his audience to realize that Brutus and the conspirators may not be honorable (III. ii. 83). According to Brutus, the conspirator's sole reason to kill Caesar was because they believed he was ambitious, Antony’s statement would then be incredibly useful to turn the crowd against Brutus and his people. The plebeians would start to realize that noble Brutus and his conspirators might not be honorable and could potentially have their own, personal reasons to assassinate Julius Caesar. Once the crowd realizes that Brutus and the conspirators could have murdered their leader for no valid reason, they would begin to feel anger which are the building steps to starting a rebellion just like how Antony

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Essay: Is Mark Antony An Effective Leader?

    1103 Words  | 3 Pages

    First, Mark Antony has been loyal to Caesar since the beginning of the play; in addition, he is a decent speaker that can persuade individuals to follow him at Caesar’s funeral. At the end of the funeral, numerous Romans take Antony’s concept of revenging the conspirators for their wrong-doing. The Plebeians say, “We’ll burn the house of Brutus/ Away then. Come, seek the conspirators” (3.2.245-246). It suggests the powerful effects of Antony’s speech which make the Plebeians seek revenge, versus Brutus’s speech about how Caesar deserves to die because of his ambition. Although it is true that Antony can easily

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    The art of persuasion is a hard talent to learn, and even harder to perform successfully. Convincing others to believe one’s argument is a key skill in life, and has been for centuries. In “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” persuasion is used by most of the characters throughout the story for a variety of reasons, but one figure in the play gives multiple speeches with the same purpose. Decius Brutus sneakily and sharply uses rhetorical devices in all of his speeches to sway himself and his audience to believe that his rash decisions and actions regarding Caesar were justified.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of these speeches, delivered by Cassius, carries the sole purpose of recruiting Brutus to aide with Caesar's   assassination plot. During this speech, Cassius uses powerful emotions to try to elicit feelings of hatred towards Caesar from one of his closest friends. Another famous speech in the play, delivered by Brutus directly following the murder of Caesar, displays such powerful use of rhetoric that Brutus changes the feelings of a crowd of thousands from anger to gratitude. When Brutus speaks, he persuades the audience that the murder of their most beloved ruler actually took place to benefit them, which is no easy feat when dealing with an angry mob. Brutus speaks with such powerful emotion that the crowd knows no other way to feel, as shown here, " Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead to live freemen?" (3.2.23-25). Lastly, Mark Antony’s speech, directly following the one given by Brutus, shows perhaps the most powerful use of rhetoric in the whole play. In one monologue, Antony changes the crowd’s mind again, this time against Brutus. Without saying anything negative about any the conspirators, Antony successfully drums up an army of people ready to fight in honor of their great leader. By far the most successful

    Read More

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

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony—a loyal friend to Julius Caesar, the former emperor of Rome—gives a speech to the Roman commoners in order to persuade them to turn against Brutus, for Brutus and the conspirators had slain Caesar. Antony’s uses rough and sharp diction, a scornful tone, and honest anecdotes in order to achieve his purpose of manipulating the common people to take his side.

    Read More

  • Mark Antony’s Remarkable Rhetoric

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout his famous speech in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Mark Antony continuously propagandizes the crowd using his eloquence. From the very beginning of his speech, Antony is facing a crowd that is already not on his side. His unique elocution allows him to fairly easily brainwash the throng into submitting to his ideas about Julius Caesar’s death. Using rhetorical appeals such as logos and pathos, Mark Antony changes the mob’s mind in a timely manner. He uses plausible and convincing reasoning, rationale, and emotional appeal in order to indoctrinate the multitude of Romans into believing what he has to say. Antony’s exceptional mellifluousness helps him put it all together though, leading to the final product that is his acclaimed speech. Mark Antony possesses phenomenal enunciation and flaunts his rare skill admirably as he dexterously instills his views into the brains of the Romans.

    Read More

  • Mark Antony's Speech Analysis

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare play Julius Caesar, Caesar is assassinated, and the city of Rome becomes enraged, demanding the death of the conspirators that murdered him. Brutus, one of the main assassins, talks to the mob and persuades them to understand that they are at an advantage without Caesar, the tyrant, as the dictator of Rome. He then leaves Mark Antony, who has meticulous orders to not try to pin the murder on the conspirators’ selfishness, but can speak numerous praises about his superior. Mark Antony then speaks to the persuaded crowd about Caesar’s endeavors and the benefits that Caesar gave to the kingdom, giving everything that was necessary and more. Mark Antony’s speech riles the citizens of Rome to mutiny without actually revealing his personal intentions of wishing to do so. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Mark Antony’s speech is more persuasive that Brutus’ speech

    Read More

  • The calamities of Julius Caesar

    494 Words  | 1 Pages

    Actions at some moments in Julius Caesar speak louder than words. A prime example is when Cassius wants the men to make a pact to follow through with the murder, but Brutus speaks up and says that the pact is unnecessary. Brutus feels as though every man is a true Roman and each man is as trustworthy and noble as he. As for Antony's speech, this is a whole different story. The words Antony spoke to the public helped motivate the people to go against the conspirators. Thought the action of killing Caesar was a publicized one, Antony's speech was far from being unnoticed.

    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

  • Free Julius Caesar Essays: The Role of the Mob

    386 Words  | 1 Pages

    He passionately described the deeds Caesar performed in behalf of the citizens of Rome, which clearly contradict the opinion of the conspirators that Caesar was too ambitious. Antony carefully uses irony in referring to Cassius and Brutus as honorable men; the strategy wins over the citizens and they listen with growing anger to his words. He leads the citizens to the body and begins to show the brutal results of the murder while simultaneously influencing them to believe that the conspirators are murderers and traitors. Ultimately, Antony reads Caesar’s will, which leaves his parks, private estates, and newly planted gardens to the citizens of Rome.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Essay: Brutus's and Antony's Speeches

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    & respects the intelligence of the common people to understand a speech given in verse.  Brutus's authoritative air is once again illustrated at the very opening line of his oration when he demands the attention of the people, "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"(Act III, scene ii, lines 13-16).  this one line, Antony uses Brutus's words to his advantage by changing them to make himself sound friendlier.  By the very first word of Antony's speech, one can infer that he is about to give a humbling oration; he uses the ethical appeal to convince the people to believe in his cause rather than Brutus's.  Finally, while the crowd is in awe of Brutus's raw power and booming authority, Antony uses sarcasm He is "an honorable man" (Act III, scene II, line 84) in a tone of biting mockery, therefore questioning Brutus's credibility. & nbsp;                  It is true that the Roman people have emotions that sway with the winds, but this is partly due to the great speaking skills of both Brutus and Mark Antony.

    Read More

  • What Is The Purpose Of Antony's Speech In Julius Caesar

    624 Words  | 2 Pages

    The crowd responds to show what is going on. Antony then responds by reading off of the will of Caesar to gain the attention of the crowd. He is delivering the speech only because he wants to address his feelings and thoughts on Caesar’s death and how he feels about the conspirators. Antony is trying to persuade the crowd to see what he sees and feel how he feels about the whole ordeal. The crowd, of course, is easily moved and persuaded by Antony’s

    Read More

More about Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

Open Document