Julius Ceasar Essay, Research Paper

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and

Mark Antony, both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar,

each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a

somewhat arrogant, to the point, eulogy, attempts to sway

the people. He justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating

that Caesar’s ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in

Antony’s eulogy, he focuses on Caesar’s positive traits, and

cunningly disproves Brutus’ justification for killing Caesar.

The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding

emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators. Brutus

seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He

begins his speech with “Romans, countrymen …”, appealing

to their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later

says, will benefit as freeman with Caesar’s death. This shows

that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their

better judgement as Romans. He declares that he is an

honorable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the

validity of his claims. That is, he will allow the truth to speak

for itself. This encourages the crowd to believe him, as an

honorable man. He says that he wants them to know the

facts; “Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses

that you may the better judge.” Sharing information with the

people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance. He

gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring

the people to find anyone who loved Caesar more. Brutus

declares that he never wronged Caesar, that he cried for

Caesar’s love, was happy for his greatness, honored him for

his courage, but had to kill him because of Caesar’s

ambition. He says that the reason for killing Caesar was his

great love for Rome. He justifies his actions by saying that he

loved Caesar but, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I

loved Rome more.” He then asks rhetorically if the people

would want to live their lives as slaves under Caesar’s rule or

would they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead. To

anyone insulted by his speech he wonders if, as Romans

who love their freedom, they could be offended or reject

what he, Brutus, says. He poses the question, “Who is here

so base that would be a bondman?” He stresses the point,

repeating the line, “If any, speak, for him have I offended.” “I

pause for a reply.”, allows them to respond to his rhetorical

questions, giving them an even greater sense that he cares

about them and their opinions. They can only respond, ”

None, Brutus, none.” That is, none are offended, they do not

disagree or argue with his words or his actions. Mark

Antony’s eulogy utilizes a different approach. He starts out

by addressing the crowd as “Friends” because he wants to

come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to gain

power. He then says, “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise

him.”, thus he can ease in praises of Caesar without the

crowd stopping him. He sounds very sincere when he says,

“The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious….

For Brutus is an honorable man.” He repeats that statement

three more times becoming increasingly sarcastic, saying

finally, “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he was

an honorable man.” Since the people responded positively to

Brutus’ speech, Antony could not insult Brutus’ honesty in a

direct manner. Yet, Antony disproves Caesar’s ambition

with three examples. One is when he gave the ransom of

captives to the public treasury and not his own, another

when he cried with the poor people, and finally when he

refused the kingship that Antony offered him, three times.

Anyone who was ambitious would never have done any

such things. Antony says, “I speak not to disprove what

Brutus spoke.” , but that is exactly what he does. Antony is

using a dramatic effect on the people, first by entering on the

stage with the body of Caesar, and at the end stating that his

heart is still with the body of Caesar, ending his speech

weeping. In justifying Caesar and disproving Brutus, the

people see Antony as a potential successor to Caesar. They

are swayed to him by his dramatics, his underhanded way of

making a point, his repetition, and compelling proof of

Caesar’s concern. He is able to get the people to question

the rightness of killing Caesar. He has planted doubt in the

people’s minds, in all areas except that he, Antony, is, “poor

soul”, an honorable. The difference between the eulogies

shows us the importance of style of speech. Both try to

appeal to the people, and both use repetition, but Brutus

takes a defensive approach, leaving the people to their own

conclusions. However, Antony takes a prosecuting

approach against Brutus, so sneaky that it is almost

subliminal. Furthermore, Antony’s examples give him an

advantage over Brutus because he backs up statements

while Brutus leaves his statements more open-ended. The

people seem to find it easier to accept Antony, an emotional

and sincere speaker, than Brutus who appears arrogant and

forceful.