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How Does Brutus Use Antithesis In Julius Caesar

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In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, Brutus uses antithesis, rhetorical questions, and parallelism to express his love for Rome and to justify his actions to persuade plebeians that the murder of Julius Caesar was for the best. Brutus’s use of antithesis helped him justify his actions and gain support from the plebeians for his actions. Explaining himself to all the plebeians in the crowd Brutus states, “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” (3.2.23-24). The rhetorical device, antithesis, is used as the balanced structure of juxtaposing words ‘less’ and ‘more.’ When Brutus states that he did love Caesar, but his love for Rome was far greater, he emphasizes his love for Rome considering the fact that Caesar …show more content…

Brutus convinces the plebeians by asking the rhetorical question, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (3.2.24-26). By directly asking the people Brutus cleverly places thoughts into the minds of the plebeians so they feel as though they are a part of the solution to a problem. The question posed makes people think logically about the situation which makes them realize that if the conspirators had not murdered Caesar, every citizen of Rome would be living under Caesar’s rule as slaves. Brutus combines both logos and pathos in his speech to emphasize the passion he has for the future Rome. By asking a question and making the plebeians think about what could have been, the people feel that they are making their own decision and therefore no longer feel conflicted between what they believed and what Brutus is preaching to them. This question really only has one simple answer, which is why this rhetorical question is so effective. With one simple question Brutus was able to persuade the revengeful citizens of Rome that his actions liberated everyone from Caesars demeaning

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This appeals to the Plebeians emotion making them feel as if Brutus’ recognition of Caesar justifies his death. Last, Brutus uses logos to make the Plebeians question if they would “rather Caesar/ were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were/ dead, to live all freemen? (III.ii.22-24). This makes the Plebeians believe Brutus’ compassion towards the people made him kill Caesar. It justifies that Brutus only killed Caesar for the greater good of Rome.

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Brutus uses rhetorical questions, faulty reasoning and hyperboles to create the tone of persuasion while convincing the Roman people to be on his side. To start off his funeral speech, he wants the citizens to trust and believe what he has to say about Caesar, Brutus announces; “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect for my honor, that you may believe me”(Shakespeare 42). In this case, faulty reasoning is shown because Brutus has done nothing to prove him honorable to the citizens. Given that, he has no evidence that he is trustworthy, Brutus still try’s to persuade the crowd to believe what he has to say about Caesar is true, which is

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Now the difference between the use of rhetorical questions in these speeches is that Antony's was used effectively, he worded it in such a way that stirred feelings as well as made them think. Brutus, on the other hand, only appealed to logic and talking to the citizens in such a way that almost offended them. Brutus says “Who is here so Vile that will not love his country?”. This is a rhetorical question that is weak because it is offending people in a way of making them feel bad if they don't love Rome with a burning passion. This isn't effective because the only thing this could do is make the romans feel as if they are being attacked.

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At the funeral, both of Caesar’s friends, Brutus and Antony, made a speech. In Brutus’s speech he was very concise and was saying that he did it all for Rome. Brutus used logos and ethos in his speech. To fortify his speech, he used logos which is logic and reason. In his speech, he says listen to my reasons and he goes onto his reasons that Caesar would have become ambitious and enslaved them all.

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When Brutus was talking to the conspirators Brutus was going back and forth think if he should help the conspirators kill Julius Caesar. He was going back and forth because he was thinking of the power he could have and could rule Rome. The reason behind Brutus killing Caesar was for the better of Rome. If Brutus would not have killed Caesar, Rome would have turned into a dictatorship, and in turn it would have ruined Rome and all of its people. Brutus did not kill Julius just for the power to rule Rome, he killed Julius to save Rome from Caesar’s dictatorship.

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Antony’s Speech Using Rhetorical Appeals In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, after Caesar’s death, the Romans are conflicted about what should be done. After Brutus’ speech the Romans are ready to crown Brutus king and be on the conspirators’ side. Though Brutus then leaves the crowd while Antony delivers his speech, the crowd realizes what should be done of Caesar’s murder and Antony prevents the conspirators from getting away with the murder of Caesar.

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Erasmus, a Renaissance humanist, portrays folly as a character named so in The Praise of Folly to show his appreciation for the role foolishness plays in the human life. For all earthly existence, Erasmus’s Folly states that “you'll find nothing frolic or fortunate that it owes not to me [folly]” (The Praise of Folly, 14). Moreover, she states that “fools are so vastly pleasing to God; the reason being, I suggest, that just as great princes look suspiciously on men who are too clever, and hate them – as Julius Caesar suspected and hated Brutus and Cassius while he did not fear drunken Antony at all…they take delight in duller and simpler souls” (Folly, 115). Folly, indeed, plays a major role in determining the fate of Antony and Brutus after

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This justifies the use of rhetorical questions as an acceptable, rational persuasion technique. Immediately after this rhetorical question, Cassius uses compare and contrast by comparing Brutus to Caesar by saying, “Write them together, yours is as fair a name; / Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well” (1.2.48-51). By claiming that Brutus and Caesar both have “fair” names and that the names both “sound” equally honorable, Cassius highlights a clear comparison between Brutus and Caesar. The similarities between the two are emphasized by Cassius in order to persuade Brutus that he is equally as important as Caesar, and should not allow Caesar to establish his own tyrannical state.

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Brutus has negatively affected the outlook of Rome and created more harm than good for the situation. Not only did it harm Rome, but it brought his own demise and hallucinations of Caesar’s ghost. Brutus’s speech to the plebeians after Caesar’s death, about his dilemma and his viewpoint towards Caesar, influenced the viewpoints of the plebeians and causes them to believe he is the best roman until Antony speaks to them. Brutus’s idealism led to his own death later on and brought him more misery than his idealism could

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(III, I, 90-91). This is Brutus trying to comfort the people and get them to listen to what they had to say about murdering him. The conspirators feared tyranny and they were willing to do anything to be free of it. But, they wouldn’t know how the people would react so they were giving them a reason to a

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755 Words | 4 Pages

In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar one of the main characters Caesar is killed in Scene 3 act 2.Then Brutus and Antony both give speeches about how bad they feel. Brutus gives a good speech by using all three of the rhetorical appeals to persuade the crowd to want to listen to what he say by using logos,ethos,pathos to his advantage. Brutus gives a better speech that draws the audience attention,Antony not as much. Therefor here are some very valid points on why Brutus’s speech used the Rhetorical Appeals better.

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Brutus tries to impress the crowd by saying that Caesar was going to become a dictator. “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (ii. III.L 22-24). Brutus gives this reason to make the people think this murderous act was honorable.

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Brutus 's speech: Brutus speaks to the people of rome why he killed caesar so they will not turn on him. He talked about how he didnt kill him because he didn 't love him but because it was for the better of rome. He also tells the people of rome that letting caesar become king would mean the government type would change and all the wars and hard work his family had put into the government would go away. He also states, for the welfare of rome that he would die for rome if rome demands his death Rhetorical devices: Brutus used questions, logos, parallelism, and pathos to stir the people of rhome. Question-

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Brutus claims were the opposite of Antony. Brutus claims was to convince the citizens that Caesar was a communist type of leader. Brutus says in his speech “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more”. He is claiming that Caesar was not good enough for Rome. Brutus makes another of the same claim, saying that Caesar is not enough for Rome saying, “with this I depart— that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death”.

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These statements mixed with examples counteractive to Brutus’ argument create an antithesis that results in the plebeians not only doubting the argument of Brutus but beginning to believe that Caesar’s death was unjust. By restating the statements over and over again by to the point that the true intention of the conspirators is a rhetorical question for the plebeians. Antony’s use of this device not only affects the logos of the people by giving them a rhetorical question as to what is happening, but also affects their ethos by causing them to doubt the credibility of Brutus’ argument. Lastly, Antony begins to finish his speech and win the plebeians over by orating “.O masters, if I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong— who, you all know, are honorable men” (Shakespeare 3.2.120-123). Antony by turning Brutus and Cassius into villains.

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