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Examples Of Manipulation In Julius Caesar

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In the tragedy Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, characters are shown to use manipulation in order to achieve their goals in Julius Caesar. Manipulation is used by characters to gain power and change the opinions of not only the nobles, but the commoners as well. The use of manipulation in the play serves as a reminder of how words and tone of voice have the ability to influence others’ opinions and ultimately influence society. In Julius Caesar, characters such as Mark Antony, Cassius, and Brutus use strategies including lies, speech, and deception to manipulate others and even themselves in the play. In Julius Caesar, during Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral, he uses rhetorical devices to appeal to the people of Rome and turn them …show more content…

Cassius uses manipulation in order to get Brutus to join the conspiracy and turn him against Caesar. First off, Cassius tells a story about Caesar and how he cried “Help me, Cassius or I sink!” (1.2.118). In this story, Caesar and Cassius challenge each other by trying to swim across rough waters. Cassius tries to convince Brutus that Caesar is not worthy of a crown by telling this story because the story shows how Caesar is weak and undeserving to be the ruler of Rome. Similarly, Cassius tells another story about Caesar and how “He had a fever when he was in spain and cried as a sick girl” (1.2.126-134). Cassius is again trying to convince Brutus that Caesar is weak but uses tone of voice to manipulate him. By comparing Caesar to a sick girl, Cassius is able to emphasize how weak he thinks Caesar really is. In addition, Cassius plans to urge Brutus to lead Rome and join the conspiracy against Caesar by throwing letters at Brutus’ window (1.2.328-331). Inside the letters are what seem to be the Roman citizens’ opinions about Caesar. Similar to Antony, Cassius uses words to get his way. However, instead of manipulating the Romans, Cassius focuses on manipulating Brutus in order to get him to lead Rome and the conspiracy against Julius

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In his convincing, Cassius states, “What should be in that ‘Caesar’? / Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” (1.2.142-143). Cassius uses the technique of manipulation in these questions, forcing Brutus to contemplate whether or not Caesar should truly be in power. Another instance of Cassius’ manipulatory ways comes from his soliloquy, in which he reveals his devious plans for Brutus.

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First, Cassius uses ethos, pathos and logos to manipulate Brutus into joining the conspirators. When Cassius first mentions joining the conspirators Brutus is sceptical and asks him “into what

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Levi Holbert Mrs. Ridenour English 10-4 May 17, 2023 Rhetorical analysis on The Tragedy of Julius Caesar In the play a close friend of Julius Caesar named Marcus Antoninus (Marc Antony), makes a speech at Caesar’s funeral. Antony uses many forms of persuasion to convince the plebeians to rise up against the senate. In his speech many appeals to logic and emotion are used such as the taunting with and reading of the will, the use of his emotions in the form of crying for Caesar, and showing the mangled body of caesar in the pulpit.

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By telling this story, Cassius makes a contrast between the towering, all-powerful figure Caesar claims himself to be and the reality: he is a mortal man with physical handicaps and sickness. By pointing out that he was stronger than Caesar, and yet has to worship him like a god, Cassius points out the unfairness by which Caesar came to power. and exposes the foolishness in Caesar's claims. By using pathos, Cassius also appeals to Brutus' dislike for a monarchy by pointing out that no man, especially Caesar, should have the power to rule all of Rome. Cassius expands on this point by telling another story about a time when Caesar was sick in bed, saying, "I did hear him groan.

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This is powerful in manipulating Brutus, because Brutus is an honorable man, and he is always concerned with what the most honorable decision is. Moreover, Cassius distorts Brutus' view of Caesar by telling Brutus that, "[Caesar has] become a god," and that Cassius "is a wretched creature," that if, "Caesar... [nods at] him," he, "must bend his

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Cassius does this because he knows that by doing this, Brutus will definitely agree to tagging along on their plan since he now knows how much the people of Rome respect him and because he strongly disagrees with Caesar becoming king and Rome becoming a tyranny . He also manipulated Brutus because he knew that Brutus would put the good of Rome above anything else. In act 1 scene 2, Brutus says, “If it’s for the general good of Rome, I’d do anything, even if it meant my death. May the gods grant me good favor only so long as I love honor more than I fear death.” This comes to show that he is willing to go far enough and do anything, like for example, kill his good friend Caesar, if it meant doing what is

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Isabella Upwood Mr. Gislason ENG2D1-4 April 26, 2023 Manipulation in Julius Caesar Many characters in Julius Caesar use manipulation and deception to try and get their way. Of all characters, Cassius is the biggest manipulator, who emotionally manipulates Brutus into turning against Caesar and becoming a conspirator. Julius Caesar manipulates the citizens of Rome to rise in power by publicly refusing the crown and convincing them that he’s not greedy for power, and would, therefore, be a desirable ruler. Finally, Antony manipulates and convinces the plebians to support Caesar after his death by convincing them that Caesar was a good man undeserving of death, making them riled up and infuriated at the conspirators.

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Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, is an extreme representation of the problems that happen in society. It shows how far a hero can fall, it shows how misinterpretation can ruin a life, but more than all, it demonstrates manipulation and the massive effect it can have on a person. The play's simple representation of both emotional and logical manipulation gives students a way to recognize when they are being manipulated and gives them an easier path to not letting others manipulate them, for these reasons Julius Caesar should still be taught in schools. One way the story demonstrates emotional manipulation is through the character of Brutus.

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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.

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Brutus was manipulated through Cassius’ clever planning, bad judgment calls, and his nobility. Throughout the play Brutus’ apprehension of killing Caesar is very much apparent. But it all started with Cassius planting a little doubt in his head. Cassius is a wise guy and knew just what to say to get Brutus talking.

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Brutus’ thoughts of Caesar are altered by manipulation. Cassius states that he plans on writing multiple letters in different handwritings that express concern about Caesar being a tyrant, knowing that this would cause Brutus to side with him against Caesar. Due to Brutus’ desire to have the best for the people, he is driven to believe that killing his best friend is necessary for the good of Rome to rid them of the supposed tyrant. Cassius makes Brutus question his morals and loyalty to his best friend. “The two most prominent plotters of Caesar's assassination exhibit very different characters: Cassius is eager to proceed…” (Reeb).

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While Brutus maintains noble intentions, Cassius goes into this scheme with every intention of leaving everyone else behind to claim the power for himself, as he has been compelled by their society to do. Cassius tells Brutus that Caesar “doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus” while convincing him that Caesar is accumulating too much power for one man, despite harboring the belief that all of that power should be his (JC I.ii.142-143). To further prove his point to Brutus, Cassius gives Brutus fake letters telling him that the common people would rather have Brutus in charge than Caesar. While this is just Cassius himself manipulating Brutus, Cassius is motivated by the pressures of their society and Brutus, motivated by the belief that his society wants him to, joins the conspirators in their plot to kill Caesar and take power for themselves. Caught in a vicious cycle of societal pressure, these men continue to fight for power even after they achieve their original goal as evidenced by the civil war that breaks out following the assassination of Julius

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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

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Cassius influenced Brutus to conspire against Caesar by stating, Caesar “is now become a god… and his name has been sounded more than [Brutus’s]” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 118-145-6). Cassius’s arguments convinced Brutus in proving Caesar's murder would be just, but Caesar’s death is unjust because he is being murdered out of Brutus and Cassius’s jealousy. Both of the individuals are envious of the power that Caesar is being given by the people of Rome and want to end his life before they will lose their own power in the senate after Caesar becomes king. Brutus’ naive mind was easily convinced by Cassius that Caesar was not the best choice to assume the Roman throne because he would not listen to their political thoughts.

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This makes the reader or watcher of the play dislike Cassius’ actions and therefore dislike Cassius as a character, which is what Shakespeare wanted. This fact is clear when Cassius says: “I will this night/ In several hands, in at his windows throw/As if they came from several citizens/Writings all tending to the great opinion” (I.ii.12). By Cassius wanting to throw forged letters at Brutus’ windows proves that he will do anything

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