Matthew Neuhorn
848259
Question one:
What is the Roman perception of Egypt? Should we have the same perception?
The contrasts between Rome (west) and Egypt (East) are vastly evident in Antony and Cleopatra. The contrasts between these two seemingly opposite Empires are represented by characters central to the play, such as Octavius Caesar from the Rome and Cleopatra from Egypt. The protagonist Antony is somewhat caught up in the middle of the feud between these two Empires, and faces an internal battle between duty and personal desires.
The Wests (Roman) ideology is threatened by the East (Egypt) as is set out by Philo, who states that Mark Antony has been led away from his duties to Rome by “a gipsy’s lust” (I.i.10). Caesar furthermore
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Antony and Cleopatra’s love is so powerful that it draws Antony away from his duties of military endeavors for Rome and towards the pleasure he seeks and experiences whilst being with Cleopatra and remaining in Egypt. Antony is believed to be a military hero in the eyes of Rome and his fellow triumvirs until it is seen that Antony has abandoned his people and duties, “Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall” (I.i.35–36) for a more pleasurable life in Egypt. Antony is fighting an inner battle of reason versus emotion, reason being the service to his country and emotion being following his true love Cleopatra. This contrast between reason and emotion is linked to the contrasts between Egypt and Rome as Antony is constantly fighting between his duty and military glory he has worked so hard for compared to his longing for indulgence and love for Cleopatra. Octavia is presented as a almost polar opposite to Cleopatra and also has power as she is able to mend the relationship between the triumvirs, at least for a while, “knit [their] hearts / With an unslipping knot” (II.ii.132–133). Octavia and Cleopatra represent different civilizations in the play both women are after Antony’s heart but are of different personalities such as Cleopatra being exceptionally beautiful and Octavia is far plainer looking. Cleopatra is a leader and will stand up for herself compared to Octavia who in contrast is far more emotionless and detached, Octavia is the “love and pity” of every Roman heart
Marc Antony is the better persuasive speaker due to his utilization of the three appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. His style involves a great amount of repetition and parallelism, and he utilizes rhetorical devices including epimone and aposiopesis to convey his point. He empathizes with the crowd of Roman citizens, and speaks in a way which allows them to feel comfortable in their own emotions. As Antony is outraged, so are the people; and for these reasons, he is the better speaker. Antony carries the corpse of Caesar to where the Romans can see his lifeless body.
Many think that following the crowd is the way to go, saying that the crowd appears for a reason. Though rarely does this result in following personal moral values. Mark Twain states that, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it’s time to pause and reflect”. In the texts of To Kill a Mocking bird and Julius Caesar majorities did not take the time to reflect on their actions and acted on ever so changing emotions. The plebeians are blinded by anger against the conspirators causing chaos to Rome letting their anger get the best of them.
Mark Antony is trying to win over the people of Rome by his very effective use of rhetoric. In his speech, his overall point is to persuade the Roman citizens that Brutus’s claim of Caesar being ambitious is not true. Antony’s use of rhetorical devices such as a rhetorical question give the people a good message. When he is telling them that Caesar brought many captives to Rome, he asks, “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious” (3.2.18). Antony’s rhetorical question was very effective since he is making the people question Brutus’s claim.
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar- Rhetorical Analysis In the novel, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, after Brutus brutally executes Caesar in Act 3 Scene 2, Antony is allowed to give a speech to the people of Rome whom have seen witnessed this fatal tragedy in Scene 3. Antony uses anaphora, connotative diction and details throughout his speech to persuade the Romans to change their perspective of Caesar and Brutus. The way Antony speaks about both Caesar & Brutus are a dispute of what he is actually trying to announce to the Romans. At the end of his speech, Antony hopes to reach the Romans emotionally (pathos) by enraging them against Brutus’s false statements against Caesar.
The author states “Cleopatra devised a plan to meet Julius Caesar on her own terms seeking a political alliance and a return to the throne” (Grochowski 1). By linking up with one of Rome’s powerful leaders it gave her a major power move, but it also gave her a part of Rome that she could control. The author states “Cleopatra and Mark Antony became allies and lovers and he returned with her to Alexandria in 40 B.C.E.” (Haughton 1). Since Cleopatra would do anything to keep Egypt successful, that also meant making new allies, especially if they were tied to Rome.
Antony wants to remind the Romans that he is credible for speaking of Caesar “that love my friend, and that they know full well, that gave me public leave to speak of him” (III.ii.215-216) Antony uses ethos after telling the Romans everything to convince them in being against that conspirators’ that he can speak of Caesar because he was a close friend of Caesar. Antony convinces the Romans to retribute the conspirators’ for what they have done “In every wound of Caesar that should move the stones of Rome to rise and mutiny” (III.ii.225-226) Antony wants revenge and is convincing the Romans to riot by using pathos. Antony wants the Romans to feel sorry about Caesar’s death “here was a Caesar! When comes such another?”
Since the fortune had it that Rome’s imperial regime was born from her defeat, Cleopatra played the role, as a unique as it was involuntary, of link between the Hellenistic and the Roman world. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony permanently have impacted on Ancient Rome and Egypt. Her being with Caesar and Anthony led to deaths, Cleopatra had been part of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony deaths. He began to make unwise decisions. Cleopatra was thus heir to a line of determined women who were often the object of sincere devotion on the part of the Egyptian people of inept or discredited.
In this area Antony is, once again, superior mainly due to his questioning of those who are against him. Antony uses the will of Caesar to back up what he’s stating. “Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not! I must tell you then.
Power in Lord of The Flies and Julius Caesar Ralph and Brutus have power over others and use that power for the greater good. In Julius Caesar and Lord of The Flies, power is used differently than others. Ralph and Brutus use their power for good. On the other hand, people like Jack and Cassius use their power irresponsibly. The wrong people were hurt under their power and not for a good reason.
Her only reasoning was not because of her late husband Mark Antony, as Cleopatra is not a simple but a complex human being. "Miserable Cleopatra, you are taken prisoner!" Upon which she turned quick, and, looking at Proculeius, drew out her dagger, which she had with her to stab herself. But Proculeius ran up quickly, and, seizing her with both his hands, "For shame," said he, "Cleopatra; you wrong yourself and Caesar much, who would rob him of so fair an occasion of showing his clemency, and would make the world believe the most gentle of commanders to be a faithless and implacable enemy." (Plutarch Life of Antony p.475)
In the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare Rome is struck with utter disorder after certain characters use ethos, pathos and logos to manipulate the people of Rome. One character who uses ethos, pathos and logos is Cassius to manipulate Brutus into joining the conspirators. Brutus also uses ethos, pathos and logo to justify his killing of Caesar. Last, Mark Antony uses ethos, pathos and logo to manipulate the Plebeians against Brutus and the conspirators. Thus, Cassius, Brutus and Mark Antony all use ethos, pathos and logos to manipulate one another and bring the people of Rome to their sides, resulting in total chaos.
And I must pause till it come back to me" (III.ii.107-109). Antony reveals his sentiments about Caesar’s death. By proclaiming his own feelings, Antony is trying to evoke compassion from the crowd. Antony establishes his love for Caesar, which tells his reason for defending Caesar. Since the crowd respects and trusts Antony, the audience members will also express feelings of sadness for Antony because of empathy.
Here, Antony has just started using Pathos by showing that Caesar did great things for Rom and that he knows how the people feel. The reason why it’s Pathos is because Antony makes Caesar seem relatable and that he cares about the people. Thus, making it appeal to the people emotions
In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus.
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