How Does Antony Use Ethos In Julius Caesar

There is an old saying that says, “for there to be betrayal, there must have been trust first”. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar, a man named Brutus organizes a group of conspirators with one goal in mind: to kill the tyrant Caesar, who Brutus is friends with. Once this task is completed, another one of Caesar’s friends, Mark Antony, is distraught over the news of Caesar being killed and seeks revenge. However, Antony hides this vengeance in front of Brutus by saying he will join the conspirators’ cause. Brutus lets down his guard and trusts Antony enough to allow Antony to make a speech at Caesar’s funeral. Before Antony speaks at the funeral, Brutus addresses the crowd of Romans by simply explaining his logic behind killing

At the beginning of his speech, Brutus begins by asking the people to keep his credibility in mind: “Believe me to mine honor, and have respect to mine honor that you may believe” (III.ii.15-17). Through asking the Roman people to trust so that they may believe what he is conveying to them, Brutus is employing ethos by establishing his credibility and validity as a speaker. Brutus also effectively uses logos by giving logical reasoning to change the fickle Roman’s opinions. Brutus’ main argument in his speech is that he killed Caesar because, “…as [Caesar] was ambitious, [he] slew him” (III.ii.28). By stating that Caesar was ambitious, Brutus is using logos by explaining the logic behind his actions, and attempting to change the people’s opinions, allowing them to understand why he killed Caesar. Brutus further employs logos when he asks the people a series of questions such as, “Who is here so base that would be a slave?” (III.ii.30-31). By asking the people this rhetorical question, Brutus use of logos allows the people to logically interpret themselves that what Caesar is doing will eventually end in them being enslaved. Brutus is smart to do this, because he knows that the crowd will not want to be enslaved, and therefore their point of view will change to align with his own. Though Brutus makes effective and logical arguments using logos and

To begin his speech, Antony proclaims, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” (III.ii.82). The order in which Antony puts the three beginning words is extremely strategic. Unlike Brutus’ speech where he puts Romans first, Antony puts friends first, crediting himself as one with the people, instead of above them. This strategy is a use of ethos in the manner of status, and a use of pathos, because it appeals to the thoughts and feelings of the Roman people. The people are more likely to listen to someone that sees himself as with them, instead of above them and controlling them. Furthermore, Antony addresses Brutus’ credibility, saying that Brutus is “…an honorable man” (III.ii.91). Since the people have just agreed with Brutus, Antony is smart to slowly persuade people to take his side. If Antony were to say that Brutus is wrong very quickly, the people may riot because they have just agreed with Brutus. Using ethos by first establishing Brutus’ credibility and then transitioning to his own credibility allows Antony to gain the Roman people’s favor. Though Antony makes effective points using ethos, his main advantage over Brutus comes from how he utilizes pathos. Antony appeals to the emotion of the people when he exclaims, “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar / And I must pause till it come back to me. He weeps”