Thesis: During Caesar’s wake, Brutus speaks to the multitude to gain sympathy, however, Antony makes a more powerful speech and wins the crowd over to his side. The most critical moment of the play is the murder of Caesar in the Senate. After Caesar is assassinated, Brutus and Antony make speeches to the Roman people. During both speeches, the speakers try to use their words to influence the crowd to agree with them. Brutus defends the decision to kill Caesar, arguing that it is best for Rome. The crowd listens to him, but when Antony speaks, they turn against him. Antony makes this happen by making an emotional tribute to his dead friend Caesar. After the murder, Brutus tried to explain why Caesar was killed and removed as Rome’s ruler. Brutus uses logic to persuade his audience, telling them that Caesar had to die in order to protect Rome from tyranny. He says: “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 21-22) He also uses antithesis, by using words that are the opposite of each other in parallel; for example: “Had you rather that Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar was dead, to live all free men.” (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 23-24). Brutus tells the audience that if …show more content…
Antony’s words appeal to the Roman people’s feelings of respect and love for Caesar. Antony speaks of the great friendship that he had with Caesar and expresses shock and anger at the death of his friend. In addition to pathos, Antony also uses a lot of irony and repetition in his speech, to mock Brutus. Antony repeats that “Brutus is an honorable man” (Act 3 Scene 2, Line 81) so many times that the phrase becomes insulting instead of respectful. By saying the phrase, again and again, Antony seems to be saying: “Brutus is an honorable man “The phrase is insulting when repeated, even though the actual meaning is not. For