Julius Caesar Persuasion Analysis

Leaders derive their power from a range of sources – military force, wealth, rank. However, leaders that we most admire win followers through the skill of persuasion. The ability of a speaker to persuade his listeners to agree with him signals that he is a powerful and astute figure. In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the character of Cassius attempts to convince Brutus that Caesar should be assassinated. Brutus, however, cares deeply for Caesar and is hesitant to kill the beloved hero of Rome. Cassius applies advanced techniques when speaking to Brutus and ultimately gains Brutus as an ally in his conspiracy against the emperor. These techniques involve the classic rhetorical methods that Aristotle crafted many centuries ago: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. Aristotle understood that people are naturally skeptical. They are only fully convinced of an argument when they trust the source, understand the reasons, and truly care about the issue.

Cassius is a foil to Brutus due to their reasons for killing Caesar. Cassius's reasons goes more towards fear and jealousy, and hs more of a selfish reason to end Caesar's life. While Brutus's motive is, wholeheartedly, for the good of Rome, and his loyalty towards Rome is greater than his of Caesars. An example for Cassius being selfish and fearful is when he sent forged letter to Brutus just to get him to help him kill Caesar. Brutus's every action in this play is for the good of Rome, he was hesitant at first because he did not believe he was a threat to Rome and the citizens until Cassius sent the forged letters. So, they both wanted to kill Caesar but have completely different

Brutus is a central character who is good at heart. He has good intentions and values and only wants what is best for Rome. Cassius targets Brutus to be apart of his plan to kill Caesar and with his persuasive use of flattery he convinces Brutus that killing Caesar is what is best for rome. Not only that but Cassius presents

In Brutus’s speech he was very concise and was saying that he did it all for Rome. Brutus used logos and ethos in his speech. To fortify his speech, he used logos which is logic and reason. In his speech, he says listen to my reasons and he goes onto his reasons that Caesar would have become ambitious and enslaved them all. He said that was one of the reasons he killed him. He also used ethos in his speech. An example would be when he said that he loved

Most of this play centers around the conspirators in the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar, and the main conspirator was Cassius. During the first half of the play Cassius’ main goal was to convince Brutus to betray his best friend Caesar and join the conspiracy. Cassius’ best skill in speaking skill was manipulation; in order to get Brutus on his side Cassius lies and manipulates Brutus by telling stories about Caesars weaknesses and praising Brutus on his honor. Cassius boosts Brutus’ on many occasions, starting his story about Caesar stating, “I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,/ As well as I do know your outward favor./ Well, honor is the subject of my story” (1.2.92-94). In saying things like this Cassius

Brutus uses rhetorical questions, faulty reasoning and hyperboles to create the tone of persuasion while convincing the Roman people to be on his side. To start off his funeral speech, he wants the citizens to trust and believe what he has to say about Caesar, Brutus announces; “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect for my honor, that you may believe me”(Shakespeare 42). In this case, faulty reasoning is shown because Brutus has done nothing to prove him honorable to the citizens. Given that, he has no evidence that he is trustworthy, Brutus still try’s to persuade the crowd to believe what he has to say about Caesar is true, which is

When making an argument to sway someone, one must first recognize when speaking that it is not so much what one says so much as how they say it. This can be seen in none other than Shakespeare’s renowned Tragedy of Julius Caesar when Calpurnia attempts to tell Caesar to stay home while Decius Brutus attempts the opposite. In Act II, scene ii, both make their arguments to convince Caesar to attend, or not attend, the senate meeting on the Ides of March in which the conspirators plan to assassinate the leader. While Calpurnia approaches Caesar using an emotional appeal, Decius decides to use a more logical appeal to persuade the general to fall into his trap. Ultimately Decius proves to be more successful in his attempt than Calpurnia, due to

Through the use of of several rhetorical devices like comparison, pathos, and figurative language, Cassius is able to twist Brutus' sense of honor and view of Caesar. In order to begin twisting Brutus' Caesar, Cassius finds the "virtue...in [Brutus]" and uses that "outward favor" to become "[Brutus'] glass"(I:ii:68-93). Cassius uses figurative language to appeal to Brutus. Cassius finds Brutus's 'virtue' and uses it in order to give Brutus a way to make sure he is doing the right thing. This is powerful in manipulating Brutus, because Brutus is an honorable man, and he is always concerned with what the most honorable decision is. Moreover, Cassius distorts Brutus' view of Caesar by telling Brutus that, "[Caesar has] become a god," and that Cassius "is a wretched creature," that if, "Caesar... [nods at] him," he, "must bend his

Intro: “Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous” as Frank Herbert once said. People may manipulate others to do their biddings in order to achieve their personal goals. No matter how hard it is, manipulators eventually reach their prey. This is the plan Cassius uses to initiate his final plan, to kill Caesar. Cassius wants Brutus to think that if Throughout the play Julius Caesar, written by William shakespeare, Cassius uses manipulation to form his group of conspirators and make them perform his biddings. Most importantly, Cassius turns Brutus, one of Caesar’s greatest friends, to his side through various creative tactics.

Cassius and Brutus are characters who have opposite values. In their introductory scene a discussion is taking place about Caesar's claim to the throne. Through this discussion the audience learns a lot about Cassius and Brutus’s values . It is revealed that Brutus is an honorable man who believes in the general good of mankind. He states,  (1.2 84-89)“ What is it that you would impart to me?/ If it be aught toward the general good, / Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, / And I will look on both indifferently, / For let the gods so speed me as I love, / The name of honour more than I fear death.” . Through this the audience learns Brutus values his honor over everything and would go as far as dying for it. The audience learns Cassius is a leader and does not believe any of his equals have the right to be above to him. It is apparent Cassius declares Caesar as his equal when he states, (1.2 99-101) “ I was born as free as Caesar, so were you. / We both have fed as well, and we can both / Endure the winter’s cold as well as he”.

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the character Cassius wishes to convince Brutus to join him in conspiring against Caesar because he and his co-conspirators believe Caesar is unfit to rule Rome. In this passage, Cassius persuades Brutus through his pathos, ethos, and logos.

Cassius totally self-centered was only worried about himself and his quest to ascend to power. He needed Caesar gone to make way for himself. His plan was off Caesar, play the conspirators and ascend to power. “I cannot tell what you and other men, Think of this life, but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be, In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar. So were you” (Act I, Scene II, Lines 93-97). This quote from Cassius to Brutus is the seed. Cassius uses little bits of doubt in Caesar to get Brutus questioning Caesar. This plan was one of cowardice, he told the other conspirators that it needed to be done for the betterment of Rome. His reasoning was because Caesar was preparing to become the dictator of Rome. A totally tyrant of the kingdom. For these self-indulgent reasons Cassius is a villain. Trying to take something good and spin it into his own benefit. Brutus on the other hand was only half bought in, he didn't really want to take the life of a friend even if it is for the betterment of Rome. He finally agree with Cassius’s persuasion. “It must be by his death, and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crowned” (Act II, Scene I, Lines 10-12). He uses the betterment of Rome idea to self justify his actions. Brutus always sees the good in other and for this reason he doesn't see Cassius motives this leads him to be

In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare includes prophets, omens, and natural phenomenon that point to the tragic end of the three main characters: Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Writing a play based on such a well known historical event, Shakespeare’s audience would have known the outline of the events before entering the theater. Therefore, the inclusion of the omens would have served as a reminder for his audience. Though the omens suggest a sense of predetermination that would have satisfied the historical outlook of the audience, it is abundantly clear that it is the choices that those characters make that dooms them. Ultimately, Shakespeare suggests that it is the flaws of the main characters that leads

Language, when used to manipulate, can solely cause war. Language can be used to manipulate others for the purpose of political change to the point of war. In Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, the power of language is represented by the use of strong language by characters to persuade others to follow them. War is caused by the manipulation of the senators to kill Caesar and the manipulation of the plebeians to revolt. Cassius in act 1 shows how figurative language can strike emotion in the minds of people. In Act 3 Brutus and Antony reveal how the opinions of the masses can be changed with emotive language. Language used to change the minds of people reveals how man can cause tremendous events through the use of

William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar” illustrates many facts and characteristics of Ancient Rome, such as betrayal and confederacy. However, deception and manipulation are the most significant aspects of the play and played a huge role in the story, which eventually lead to the death of Julius Caesar. Examples of deception and manipulation in this play are the fake letters that sent to Brutus, Decius assured Caesar about Calpurnia’s dream, and Anthony’s speech against Brutus.