"All animals are equal, some are more equal than others", this phrase is a reminder of the power of corruption when those in authority resort to manipulation and deception to obtain what they want. Manipulative language is exploited throughout all of George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm to justify their authoritarian rule and convince the other animals to go along with their beliefs. This appeal to morality and honor to persuade their counterparts to support their leadership and policies is also persistent in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Through the comparison of Animal Farm and Julius Caesar, we can see the potential for the abuse of power and the consequences that can result from a strong form of idealism and manipulation. Shakespeare's play …show more content…
He comprehends the importance of appealing to Brutus's emotions and values. Cassius achieves this through emotional language and rhetorical questions that create a sense of urgency and importance in Brutus' mind, making him more open to accepting Cassius’s ideals. For instance, in Act 1, Scene 2, Cassius compares Caesar to a "Colossus," a giant statue. By portraying Caesar as a tyrant oppressing the people, Cassius appeals to Brutus' devotion to Rome and sense of honor, causing him to perceive Caesar as a menace to the Roman Republic. Consequently, Cassius' skillful manipulation of language is a crucial factor in his success in persuading …show more content…
When Brutus expresses concern about their actions being perceived as disloyal, Cassius emphasizes "the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves,". Cassius also implies they have the ability to control their own fate and that it is their responsibility to do so. Cassius suggests that if they do not act, they will forever remain under Caesar's tyranny, and their destiny will be left to chance. This idea appeals to Brutus's sense of duty and honor, as he believes it is his responsibility to care for the people of Rome and prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant. By framing the decision as one of personal responsibility rather than a matter of treason, Cassius convinces Brutus to take action. The warning of the possible consequences of inaction serves as a persuasive tool to push Brutus towards joining the conspiracy against Caesar. This foreshadowing, combined with Cassius's emotional language and imagery, ultimately manipulates Brutus and convinces him to join the
In Cassius’s speech to his brother he uses the method Ethos and establishes credibility and appeals to ethics or morals. One of the ways he does this is by saying that “[their] fathers say There was a Brutus once who would have brook’d The eternal devil” (Shakespeare 20-21). This shows that wiser people before them said that Brutus was strong and therefore, lends a hand towards Cassius’s argument that he should take action. Also by stating “I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor Did from the flames of troy upon his shoulder… Did I the tired Caesar” (Shakespeare 20-21).
Brutus is always questioning if he ever made the right choice with helping out with the conspiracy. We see that he often wonders what would happen if he decided to just say
168-170). Cassius uses Brutus’s strong morals, mentioning how an honorable person would help him, in an attempt to join the conspirators. This self-delusion is further demonstrated when Brutus is unable to recognize the implications of his decision and fails to see that he is actually destroying Rome's values. By justifying his actions as noble patriotism, Brutus fails to recognize the consequences of his actions and the cost of his ambition.
Here, Brutus seems genuine that he is not in search of glory and that he has no issues with Caesar. This example backs the claim that Brutus does have noble intentions. Apparently, however, Cassius’ words were able to affect Brutus more than he knew, as soon after he was turning on Caesar. Furthermore, when the other conspirators are deliberating whether or not to also kill Mark Antony, Brutus convinces the group not to kill anyone other than Caesar.
This leads him to joining the conspirators and his following downfall also turning him into a tragic hero. This helps us understand Brutus’s character, instead of us believing that he joined the conspirators out of pure hatred for Caesar, we can understand that he was manipulated by Cassius into believing in the wrong. While Brutus is seen as honest but easily manipulated, Antony’s character contrasts with Brutus’s because he is persuasive and manipulative while contrasting with Brutus being easily influenced. This is indicated when Antony is giving out his hand shake. He says, "Let each man render me his bloody hand.
“ 'Tis true, this god did shake;/ His coward lips did from their colour fly,” says Cassius, again reminding Brutus in just one statement that Caesar is too powerful even though he is not strong. The things Cassius says are meant to resonate with Brutus, and in the end the honor that Cassius has used against him and the growing belief that Caesar does not make a good ruler, particularly since they shouldn’t place the power in one man’s hands, convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy. Metaphors, similes, and imagery are used to convince Brutus that Caesar is not a powerful leader and someone like him needs to push Caesar out of power. This is important because it starts Brutus thinking about how they could just kill Caesar and do away with their problems. Brutus joining
Characters are working hard to persuade and suggest other world views, like above. Caesar is almost manipulating men to see themselves as weak, strange and cowardly if they feel fear. In act 2, scene 2, Cassius wants Brutus to change his point of view and join the other side. Cassius keeps revisiting the topics of gaining power for himself. Brutus not so much.
Cassius manipulates Brutus to the point of making him feel as if there are several people wanting Brutus to do something about Caesar. Cassius also wants to convince Brutus that “Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at” so they can eliminate his power for fear that “worse days [may] endure”. Cassius is not the only senator wanting to eliminate Caesar’s growing
Cassius and Brutus are friends throughout the story; however, we learn that in comparison, they are very different. On one hand, Cassius, the pragmatic leader, wastes no time in solving problems. In this case, he has a problem with Caesar and the way that Caesar rules. Cassius, along with many others, believe
He dies, and his death is a result of his own tragic flaws, which is his ignorance or willingness to trust people. Brutus is convinced that the death of Caesar will only benefit Rome, as he believes Caesar is not a good leader, is is starting to become a tyrant. Throughout the play, Brutus believes that him and Cassius on the same page, when really Cassius only wants Caesar dead out of spite and jealousy. Brutus is foolish to believe that the other men in Rome's government will simply step aside after Caesar is assassinated, when really these men are greedy and eager to take Caesar's power. Brutus was not only seen as a threat to these men, but he has also proved to be easily manipulated.
Brutus answers back that he will not allow Caesar to become king although he respects him very much. By this point, Cassius has shaken Brutus’ position. Pressing his advantage, Cassius challenges Brutus as to why he has allowed Caesar to be “like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs” (sec. 10). To emphasize Brutus’ inferiority, he compares a Colossus to Caesar, while portraying Brutus in a negative light as a “petty” man. Thus, Brutus feels inadequate.
All Cassius is doing is manipulating Brutus so that he can get Caesar out of the way for his own agenda. Cassius states, “Come Casca, you and I will yesterday/ see Brutus at his house: three parts of him/ Is ours already, and the man entire/ upon the next encounter yields him ours” (I.ii.) . Brutus’s “friends” give him good enough reasons to kill Caesar, or so he thinks. Brutus is blind to the fact that the
What do these lines imply about Brutus’s most important value in life? These lines show that Brutus is willing to do whatever it takes to do what is best for Rome, even if that means he will die. 5. At the end of the scene, what does Cassius plan to do to further convince Brutus to conspire against
In fear of possible tyranny in Rome after Caesar is crowned, the conspirators are convinced by Cassius’ words to stab Caesar, while unaware of what these rash actions will ultimately result in. While planning Caesar’s murder, Cassius decides he needs a very influential and well-liked person to be the face of his conspiracy in order for them to become successful, and attempts to recruit Brutus as his co-leader. Whether dissatisfaction or envy is the motive behind Cassius’ plot to kill Caesar, Cassius says, “ Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves” (I.ii.146-148). Cassius tells Brutus that their free will is necessary to ensure the best for the Roman Empire, playing with Brutus’ morals and ideals, but it is arguable if the free will of the conspirators really had any effect on Rome. The fall of Caesar is undoubtedly an act of free will; the conspirators clearly show their faith in their own power to change Rome.
In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the theme is power. In the play, Caesar is seen after defeating Pompey in a battle. While everyone cheers him on, Cassius is trying to manipulate Brutus into his plan of attacking Caesar. Regardless of his friendship and loyalty to Caesar, Brutus decides to be a part of the conspirators. While Cassius is driven by power, Brutus is more concerned for the liberty of Rome.