Caesar Essay, Research Paper

The styles of rhetoric used in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, by Antony and Brutus

are very different.

Brutus said in his speech that he assures any dear friend on Caesar s that his love for him

was no greater then their love. Brutus tried to convince the crowd thathe murdered Caesar for the

good of the country by stating that he loved Rome more then Caesar. He wanted the crowd to

think that he killed his best friend for their benefit, he was sure this would put him on better terms

with them. He then told all the Romans that if he did not slay Caesar, they would all be living as

slaves, so again, he did it for their benefit.

He then told the crowd of all Caesar s great qualities and then mentioned ambition, and

this is why he killed Caesar, it was because of his ambition. Brutus then asked questions which no

one in their right mind would answer out loud, for it would make them look like a traitor to the

country, so he waited for a reply, but they said none. So now he has them right where he wants

them. He assured himself he has offended no one. He ends the speech with assuring himself and

all Romans, again, that he did it for Rome.

Brutus was not professional about his speech, it showed lack of experience. His speech

was very different from Antony s because Brutus was not a professional public relations speaker

and his speech was defensive, he had to make up excuses for everything he did. He constantly had

to remind Romans, and hope they believe him, of his love for them and Rome.

Now Antony began his speech similarly. He then agreed with Brutus, about his ambition

being a grievous fault. He constantly stated all the great qualities of Caesar, and each time he

stated how Brutus is an honorable man. He is helping the crowd to realize how not honorable

Brutus was. Antony made the crowd miss Caesar, and they thought about how great a leader

Caesar was.

He then weeped for Caesar, which made the crowd understand his love for Caesar, and

gave them a chance to mutter among themselves. They are starting to think that Caesar s death is

wrong. After finishing how honerable Brutus is, he pulls out Caesars will. He did not read it,

though, he hyped the crowd up about it, got all their blood flowing, and put their energy level

through the roof. He told them they shouldn t hear the will, because Caesar s love for them would

make them mad, which is exactly what he wanted to do.

Antony them reminisces of when Caesar was younger and just received the cloak, now

that the crowd is so hyped up, this makes them feel sad for Caesar. They see he was human too.

Then Mark Antony put the thought of treason into their heads. This stirs the crowd so much, they

begin to leave, then for his finale he reminds them of the will, and reads it, he tells them how

much Caesar loved them, and made the crowd feel as if it were their duty to avenge such a great

man s death.

Antony spoke so well that he convinced an entire mob to go after the murderers. He did exactly

what he wanted to do, he played with their emotions until they were furious about the death, and

they were off to do Antony s dirty work.