How Does Antony Use Ethos In Julius Caesar

In Act III, Scene 2 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Marc Antony is able to manipulate the mood of the crowd. The commoners transform from a confused, depressed group of people to an furious mob wanting to make a stand against the conspirators due to their despicable action. Antony manages to do so by using ethos, pathos, and logos. These three persuasive techniques all appeal to the audience in a different way. Ethos are phrases that relate to ethics or morals and make oneself sound fair and unbiased. Pathos control the emotions of an audience and evoke a certain feeling to persuade the crowd in this case. Finally, logos convince an audience using reason and logic. Antony expresses a variety of persuasive techniques

Antony knows that if he shows Caesar’s body the people, he will receive the response he is fetching by sparking up emotion to Caesar’s dead body. As an illustration to ignite emotion, Antony announces “Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor, poor, dumb mouths” (3.2). Antony allows the people to witness Caesar’s body as a way to put everything into perspective. Hearing about someone’s death and encountering their body lifeless has two major different feelings and Antony uses that against the people to make Caesar’s death more real. Likewise, Antony does the same with Caesar’s will. He influences the feelings of the commoners to turn them against the conspirators. Additionally, Antony states “And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar. It will inflame you, it will make you mad” (3.2). By stating Antony has the will of Julius Caesar, he is teasing the people by practically holding it in front of their faces. This act of teasing the people is only making them want it more and is manipulating their feelings. Antony finally reads the will to make the commoners feel guilty that Caesar has loved each Roman and has even left money for the people. The sole purpose of Antony first refusing to read the will, and then the decision to read it is to make the commoners love Caesar again and hate the conspirators even more, which Antony

Antony uses logos to disprove the words of Brutus, but does so in a way that angers the commoners. For example, Antony says “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; and, sure, he is an honorable man” (3.2). Antony is bringing this up to anger the people and make them realize the cruel action the conspirators and Brutus have done. Antony speaks all of the words of Brutus, however, he does so in a way that twists what Brutus said to demonstrate Caesar is not the ambitious man Brutus claims Caesar was. In addition, Antony starts out strong by telling the Romans the opposite of his true intentions. For example, Antony clearly states “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” (3.2). He starts out by saying this because shortly before, Brutus has just won support over the commoners and does not want the people to think he is going against the words of Brutus even though the words he speaks are how he wishes the people to think. Antony continuous uses claims the men who killed Caesar were honorable men, but then gives reason after reason as to why Caesar was no ambitious. This proves to the people that the conspirators were not noble in killing Caesar without going against the words of Brutus or the other