Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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Draft Eight In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the climactic, bloody battle between the forces of Brutus and Cassius and those of Antony and Octavius is preceded and precipitated by the verbal battle between Antony and Brutus at Caesar’s funeral. As the first to address the public at Caesar’s funeral, Brutus justifies Caesar’s murder on the grounds of ambition and despite the admiration the public held for Caesar in life, they are quickly swayed by Brutus’ rhetoric and accept his justifications. Aware that he has neither the support of the people nor nobility, in his response, Antony implicitly argues that Caesar was unjustly slain by disparaging Brutus’ honor and discrediting his assertion that Caesar was ambitious. Despite skillfully employing rhetorical …show more content…

He claims that the council was prepared to bestow a “crown” upon Caeser and that he must make haste to the Senate as their “minds may change”. Whereupon Caesar quickly leaves, eager for the crown, disproving any claim that Caesar was not motivated by personal greed or desire for the monarch’s seat. Subsequently, weakening the claim that Caesar was not ambitious. Additionally, before reaching the Senate chambers, Metellus, Brutus, and Cassius petitioned Caesar to lift the banishment on “Cimber” and were met with a staunch refusal. Ceaser claims that he is “unassailable” in his decision to banish Cimber and comparing himself to the northern star positions himself as a man who has “no firmament”. Clearly, placing himself above the questioning of his fellows, above the ruling council, and in a seat of immense power. Once again, indicating a facet of his ambition by demonstrating his desire for the political power that has no equal, the power of a monarch. With his discursive reasoning flawed, Brutus’ argument that Caesar was unambitious and the premises whose foundation rests upon this claim are severely

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