Brutus And Antony's Speech Tone Analysis

Tone can be defined as the attitude that a speaker or writer conveys toward his or her subject. The tones of Brutus and Antony’s funeral speeches in the play Julius Caesar are strikingly different. Both Brutus and Antony speak to the Roman people at the funeral of Julius Caesar. Brutus quickly convinces the people to see the death of Caesar in a positive light; therefore, claiming it was to protect Rome from the ambition of Caesar. Antony being very loyal to Caesar is hurt by the assassination and vows to avenge Caesar. While speaking to the crowd, he manipulates the Roman people to see the assassination of Caesar as an act of malice and jealousy. In his funeral speech, Brutus creates a earnestand honest tone through the use of loaded words,

Brutus delivers a speech after the assassination of Julius Caesar and uses loaded words, which are words meant to stir emotions. Brutus uses the words “freeman,” “slave,” “bondman,” “honor,” and “love” to stir the emotions of the Roman people (Shakespeare 42). Brutus uses this specific rhetorical device to convey his sense of patriotism Roman populace. Brutus wants his fellow Romans to understand why he took part in assassinating Caesar, an ambitious ruler. These loaded words produce emotions of patriotism and nationalism. Later in his speech, Brutus uses antithesis, which contrasts two ideals, to contrast his love for Rome and his love for Caesar by saying, “Not that I loved/ Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (Shakespeare 42). Brutus saying this to the Roman people emphasizes the fact that Brutus loves Rome more than he could ever love anyone or anything, even his best friend and mentor. Him saying this is contributes to the honest tone of the speech and conveys a strong sense of nationalism to the Roman people. Brutus also uses a rhetorical device called either- or fallacy, which focuses on only two points, in his speech. During his speech, Brutus only mentions to the Roman people two options he states, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than/ that Caesar

He uses aporia, loaded words, and a dramatic pause to manipulate the Roman people and cause them to have fiery emotions. Antony follows Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral and uses aporia to produce a manipulative and fiery tone. Since aporia feigns or pretends, Antony uses this rhetorical device by claiming, “Hear this testament-/ Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read” (Shakespeare 45). Antony is referring to Caesar’s will and claims he does not wish to read it; although, he knows that saying this will manipulate the Roman people and cause them to have a greater desire to hear the testament. Using this rhetorical device calls more attention to the will and what is written in it. Dramatic pause is also used throughout Antony’s speech to convey a fiery and manipulative tone. For example Antony states, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me” (Shakespeare 44). Dramatic pause is meant to simply pause and provide time for reflection by the audience. Antony pausing in this instance provides time for the Roman populace to reflect on what he just said and process the fact that Caesar is dead. Lastly, Antony uses loaded words which are meant to stir the emotions of the audience hearing the speech. He uses the words, “Ransoms,” “Mourn,” “Testament,” “Inflame,” “Ingratitude” (Shakespeare 44-48). Antony states these words to