He uses aporia, loaded words, and a dramatic pause to manipulate the Roman people and cause them to have fiery emotions. Antony follows Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral and uses aporia to produce a manipulative and fiery tone. Since aporia feigns or pretends, Antony uses this rhetorical device by claiming, “Hear this testament-/ Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read” (Shakespeare 45). Antony is referring to Caesar’s will and claims he does not wish to read it; although, he knows that saying this will manipulate the Roman people and cause them to have a greater desire to hear the testament. Using this rhetorical device calls more attention to the will and what is written in it.
When Cassius and Brutus were talking, Cassius tells Brutus, “I had as lief… as he” (35). Here Cassius is trying to show Brutus that Caesar is just like him and Caesar shouldn’t be king. Brutus thinks about this and they fear about Caesar being king. Just by the words of Cassius, Brutus can be manipulated so easily, making him pretty gullible. Another thing Cassius told Brutus says, “The torrent soar’d… I sink!” (36).
While he does use pathos to create the feeling that Caesar was his dear friend and that he does “mourn” for him, Antony mainly uses logos to create a more logical explanation of why Brutus was wrong. He says, “He hath brought many captives home to Rome whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” Antony is trying to make the crowd see that Caesar helped Rome and made Rome wealthy. Brutus claims that Caesar wanted to turn all the citizens into slaves but why would Caesar go from someone who helped and cared for Rome to someone who takes on cold-hearted ambitions? This is what Marc Antony is trying to get the citizens to ask themselves. It is illogical for Caesar’s intentions with Rome to completely take a
However, Brutus turns the tables on Caesar with a powerful question. “Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him I have offended. I pause for a reply” (4). Brutus tells the citizens that he has killed Caesar because he didn’t love his country and he had evil intentions for Rome.
It is evident through Cassius’s disgruntled tone when speaking about Caesar, as well as his ulterior motives regarding Brutus, that jealousy is the true leading cause in spreading a negative perception of Caesar: “Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see/ Thy honorable mettle may be wrought/ From that it is dispos’d; therefore it is meet.”(1.2.303-305). Even Cassius himself, the lead figure criticizing Caesar, forming this “negative perception,” recognizes that his cause is not fully justifiable, and his actions are going against an honorable moral compass. Through this, Shakespeare is in fact sympathizing with Caesar, as he demonstrates that while in the public eye, Caesar is constantly facing scrutiny from those jealous of his accomplishments and military prowess. Thus,
In order to remain strong to the citizens of Rome and their enemies, Cassius, Caesar and Antony put up facades to mask their motives. During the play, the conspirators attempt to predict what kind of leader Caesar will become after he gains the title of dictator. In the beginning of the play, Caesar notices Brutus speaking with Cassius at the race. Since Caesar is now such a powerful ruler, he starts to fear what may be occurring and voices his concern, “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look / He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous” (I.ii.204-205).
The mention of the name “Julius Caesar” evokes a variety of different images in people’s minds. Some would think “dictator,” others, “leader” or “influential,” and even so, among others, “an arrogant asshole.” Whatever the world’s opinion of Caesar, it is an indisputable fact that he completely transformed the Roman Republic into a strong Roman Empire. Caesar has a rather lengthy track record for positions held in the political sphere, thus making him the epitome of what one would define as a political success. The leading contributing factor in this success was the crucial political alliances he formed. That along with his cunning, people-pleasing abilities, and immense sense of determination all contributed to how Julius Caesar became the
Subsequently, he makes an appeal to his own character by portraying his pride for his country; he forces the crowd to feel guilty if anyone opposes him is essential an enemy of Rome. On the other hand, Mark Antony’s speech tries to convince the crowd to believe that Caesar did not deserve to die and the conspirators are the real antagonist by the use of a rhetorical question. Therefore, Mark Antony used his rhetorical question to contradict Brutus’s statement that they had to kill Caesar because
According to dictionary.com, a betrayer can be defined as a person who is unfaithful in guarding or fulfilling a promise, or committing treachery, against another person. This is a flawless characterization of Brutus in William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar”. Brutus was a senator of Rome who assassinated the future monarch, Julius Caesar. However, Brutus killed Caesar out of the love he had for his country’s wellbeing and to prevent the spread of tyranny. Conversely, the senator mislead his king into believing that he could be trusted.
Caesar, he is a coward, he is selfish, and he has no right to be king. The first reason Caesar would not have been a good King is his weakness. Having a king who appears weak to his subjects and his enemies is never good for a country. It appalls Cassius that "... a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world and bear the palm alone (1.2.129).” Another reason Caesar is unfit to rule is he is power hungry. Caesar tells Antony that when he has a group of advisors, “Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights…(1.2.192).” Finally, Caesar shouldn’t rule Rome because he is overambitious.