Brutus’ speech held more authority and truth than Antony’s. On the day of Caesar’s death, both Brutus and Antony gave their two cents on his murder. Brutus argued that the murder was necessary and Caesar would have became a tyrant if he continued on. However, Antony argued against Brutus, and stated Caesar shouldn’t have died and that the act was unjust. Though in the end it is Brutus who triumphs over Antony, because of his use of pathos, ethos, and rhetorical questions. To begin, pathos was one of Brutus’ main rhetorical techniques, used to relate to the public. In the beginning of the speech, he asks “if there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him [Brutus] says, that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his” …show more content…
He begins with asking, “had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (Shakespeare 870). As exampled before, there is only one answer to this question, thus making it rhetorical and to be taken rhetorically. By doing so, the audience only see one option: Caesar had to die. Afterwards, Brutus inquires “who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended” (Shakespeare 871). Much like the previous example, this question has only one beneficial answer for the listeners. So while asking this he is making the people both see his perspective, and also be too afraid to deny him. For his final question, Brutus asks, “who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any speak; for him have I offended” (Shakespeare 871). This is Brutus’ biggest question and insult, he finalizes his point with this and secures the audience’s devotion. Admitting one is going against his entire country was extremely frowned upon in ancient Rome, making this comment and question, the perfect combination and, more importantly, rhetorical question. Rhetorical questions truly sold Brutus’ case and point, though it was always necessary for him to use both ethos and pathos as
Playwright, William Shakespeare, in the play Julius Caesar, utilizes many instances of rhetorical devices through the actions and speech of Caesar's right-hand man, Mark Antony. In the given excerpt, Antony demonstrates several of those rhetorical devices such as verbal irony, sarcasm, logos, ethos, and pathos which allows him to sway the plebeians. The central purpose of Mark Antony’s funeral speech is to persuade his audience into believing that Caesar had no ill intentions while manipulating the plebeians into starting a rebellion against their new enemies, Brutus and the conspirators.
In Julius Caesar two men, Antony and Brutus, make two different speeches but with the same concept of ethos, logos, and pathos at Caesar's funeral. Brutus claims that it is okay that he killed Caesar and makes a speech about it. Antony is the more persuasive speaker than Brutus because he uses ethos, pathos, and logos better than Brutus. Brutus has a way with the people. He is a politician, and he knows how to get the people on his side.
Brutus used pathos excessively in his funeral speech and they appealed to the Plebeians’ sense of patriotism and love. Before Brutus joined Cassius’ conspiracy, he was one of Caesar’s favorites, a close friend, and well-respected and trusted by Caesar. When Cassius brought out the idea of the conspiracy, Brutus anxiously pondered and conflicted with himself about it, but in the end joined with the genuine belief that it will benefit the people of Rome. He hoped Caesar’s death would end corruption in Rome, and the distress and sadness of the citizens. Thus, he used pathos in his funeral speech in order to appeal to the sense of patriotism and love for home. Brutus said, “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
Analysis of the Funeral Speeches of Brutus and Marc Antony from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar At the funeral of Julius Caesar two characters make speeches to the plebeian mob, Brutus and Marc Antony. Shakespeare shows us the personalities of the two orators and gives one an advantage over the other. Marc Antony has an advantage over Brutus because he speaks after Brutus and he has Caesar’s body. He also interrupts Brutus’ speech.
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.
“If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (1) In this sentence he is using pathos to invoke the audience, trying to put them in his own shoes by telling them that he conspired against Julius for their sake. “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” In this quote he uses words of emotion such as love, rejoice, and honor. Brutus is trying to influence the audience into giving him sympathy by making the audience feel what he wants them to
He began justifying his actions to himself, soliloquizing that he was not jealous of Caesar’s power, but afraid for the Roman Republic of what Caesar may become, saying “I know no personal cause to spurn at him, / but for the general. He would be crowned:/ How that might change his nature, there’s the question.” (II.i.10-14). He passionately stated that although Caesar showed no signs of being corrupt, ambition and power morphed people into condescending, cruel rulers – thus killing him would be the heroic thing to do, saving the people from tyranny and oppression. (II.i.20-28). By predicting that Caesar would be a harsh king, and that he would become a king at all, Brutus made excuses for agreeing to kill Caesar and satisfied his own needs to be validated as an honorable person and a
As a final point, Antony and Brutus both spoke at Caesar’s funeral to prove their reasoning’s to the people. Antony’s speech turned out to be the more effective one because he manipulates the words ambitious and honorable to contradict Brutus, he uses props to provide substantial evidence to the people, and his speech was more effective because it essentially persuaded the people to be on his side whereas Brutus did not convince the people of anything.
William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, was mainly based on the assassination of Julius Caesar. The character who was the mastermind behind the assassination was, ironically, Marcus Brutus, a senator and close friend to Julius Caesar. But what would cause a person to kill a close friend? After I examined Brutus' relationship towards Caesar, his involvement in the conspiracy and his importance to the plot it all became clear. Brutus had one particular reason for killing Caesar and that was for the good of the people and the republic. Brutus had no personal reason for killing Caesar. Some of his most admirable traits were his morality and leadership skills.
By nature, the crowd of Romans will be more concerned with their personal safety than the death of their ruler. Antony appeals to his personal experiences and friendship with Caesar in a touching, personal, primarily pathetic argument; on the other hand, Brutus appeals to the Roman citizens directly by presenting himself as their protector against Caesar, a threat to their safety and liberty. Therefore, in terms of effectiveness, Brutus reaches his audience on a much more personal and convincing level with his argument than Antony was able to with his account of his friendship and life with
Brutus made his speech effective in persuading the people by using tone and rhetorical devices. Brutus was compassionate when referring to how he loved Caesar as much as Caesar`s friends of his speech. Brutus was showing compassion on lines18 - 20 when he said, "If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus's love to Caesar was no less than his." Brutus said this to help the people understand the sorrow he felt for the loss of Caesar, but he felt he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. Brutus anticipated an objection by the people when he said he loved Caesar , so he went on to say on lines 20 - 23, "If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I love Caesar less, but Rome more."Brutus manipulated the people with rhetorical questions. He asks them on lines 29 - 33, " who is so base, that they would be a bondman, who is so rude, that they would not be a Roman, and who is so vile, that will not love his country," the people do not want to be against their country nor do they want to be so base to be a slave....
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
Because Antony ingeniously uses a plethora of logical, emotional, and credible arguments, he outshines Brutus’s speech, which lacks in verifiable evidence. Antony also seizes the power of rhetorical devices in a more effective way than Brutus to convey his message. This battle between their speeches reflects in the outcome of their war, showing the superiority of Antony’s persuasive ability. While Brutus may have been an “honorable man,” it was Antony that proved to be the more effective one.
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
Brutus begins his speech using a sentimental tone, talking of how he loved Caesar just as much as anyone present. He then goes on to explain why he conspired against a friend so dear to him. “If then that friend demands why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (79). Here Brutus begins to speak of how Rome is of the highest importance, how the death of Caesar was absolutely necessary, for his ambition would have led them all to their graves as slaves. Now Brutus seems to go in a logical direction, asking who would rather be a slave, “who is here so rude, that would not be Roman?”(80), making the death of Caesar seem perfectly fine, even good.