ipl-logo

How Does Brutus Use Ethos In Antony's Speech

621 Words3 Pages

Ben Goldowsky Mr. Olivencia English 9 May 1, 2023 Brutus Vs. Antony: A Fight Over The Death In the second act of William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar is killed by Brutus and his conspiracy. After the killing, Both Brutus and Antony make speeches illustrating their positions. They need to do this because the Roman populace needs someone to believe in and the person who manages to convince the Roman masses will most likely have a big part in the choice of their next leader. Brutus delivered a better speech because of his strong use of Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. One reason Brutus delivered a better speech was his use of Pathos and Ethos. “If there’s anyone in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, I say …show more content…

“Would you rather that Caesar were living and we would all go to our graves as slaves, or that Caesar were dead and we all lived as free men?”(Shakespeare 3.2.21-22). Throughout Brutus’ speech, he does a very good job in convincing the audience that his motivations for killing Caesar were sound. Notably, he uses the classic strategy of insinuating that something bad could happen, so the very root of that thing should be destroyed. In other words, “rather safe than sorry”. “Then I have offended no one. I’ve done no more to Caesar than you will do to me.” (Shakespeare 3.2.33-34). He also keeps coming back to the fact that none of his reasons are offensively bad, and that there is nobody in the audience who would want what Caesar’s reign threatened, enslavement and a removal of their Roman patriotism. The most effective part of Antony’s speech were his statements as to how Caesar was not ambitious. “You all saw that on the Lupercal feast day I offered him a king’s crown three times, and he refused it three times. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious.” (Shakespeare 3.2.93-95). This is a good point if his purpose was to get the common people to see Caesar in a good light once more. However, Antony does not take into account that this behavior could merely be Caesar’s social awareness, in that taking the crown would have made him seem like a tyrant or overly

Show More
Related
1498 Words | 6 Pages

After winning the crowd's trust, Antony must also make a logical appeal; after all, hard evidence cannot be ignored: “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, / Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?” (3.2.96-97). Antony offered Caesar the crown on three separate occasions and he refused. This refutes Brutus’s claim that Caesar was too ambitious. After all, if someone was that ambitious, they would not hesitate to claim the crown.

Read More
945 Words | 4 Pages

In this area Antony is, once again, superior mainly due to his questioning of those who are against him. Antony uses the will of Caesar to back up what he’s stating. “Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not! I must tell you then.

Read More
326 Words | 2 Pages

Julius Caesar was ambushed by his own people. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Caesar is killed by his own people. After he is killed, Brutus and Antony address the crowd growing outside of the Capitol. In Mark Antony’s confrontational speech to the mourners, he establishes his argument that there was no real reason to kill Caesar by convincing the crowd that Caesar is ambitious; he then develops his argument by using pathos, ethos, and logos to change the mob’s stance and ultimately ends his speech by convincing the crowd that Brutus is to blame for Caesar’s death. The first way Antony persuades the audience is through his use of pathos.

Read More
550 Words | 3 Pages

To prevent Caesar from making Rome a dictatorship, envious conspirators, with the help of Brutus, plan to kill Caesar. Caesar’s death leaves Antony scarred and he intends to avenge his friend. Antony goes to war with Octavian and is defeated. As a result, he kills himself. Although Antony doesn’t include evidence of how Brutus wasn’t honorable, Antony’s speech is effective at convincing the Roman Citizens that Caesar's murder was not justified.

Read More
910 Words | 4 Pages

He says, “Had you rather Caesar were living and died all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (3.2.20-21). The repetition of the word “rather” and the parallel structure of the sentences highlight Brutus’ argument that the assassination was necessary to preserve the freedom of the Roman

Read More
942 Words | 4 Pages

Brutus continuously mentions that Caesar was ambitious. In his famous quote he says, “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” Brutus uses the repetition of ambitious to emphasize the conspirator 's reason for murdering Caesar. By repeating the word “ambitious” he makes sure that the audience knew exactly why Caesar had to be killed. This helps to create the specific effect of justifying the conspirator 's actions because it gives the audience a solid reason for why Caesar was dangerous.

Read More
550 Words | 3 Pages

In Brutus’s speech he used ethos and logos to try and control the people of Rome. He was stoic and blinded of what Antony was capable of. He wanted to change their minds about the conspiracy and the murder of Caesar. Brutus says “Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men” (III, i, 23-24).

Read More
802 Words | 4 Pages

When Brutus spoke about his motives to kill Caesar he said, “As he was valiant I / honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (3.2.27-28). Brutus honored Caesar but saw that his ambition has the potential of being very dangerous. He thought that a danger like Caesar could not be left to grow more powerful when there is a solution to the issue now.

Read More
1131 Words | 5 Pages

Antony's Persuasive Speech The city of Rome is in devastation after the death of their ruler, Julius Caesar, and the citizens are eager to find someone to blame for his death. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, Brutus, one of the men who killed Caesar, stands in front of the Roman citizens and delivers a logical monologue. After reciting his speech, the crowd sympathizes with Brutus and understands that he only killed Caesar for the good of Rome. Shortly after, Caesar's loyal companion by the name of Marc Antony stands in front of the crowd and delivers a very emotional argument.

Read More
574 Words | 3 Pages

Brutus has a vision, and he intends it to work out in every way he plans. In a sense he achieves what he wants, and killing Caesar may have been crucial to his short-lived success.

Read More
984 Words | 4 Pages

He draws sympathy from the audience as he describes the Caesar he knew: Humble and attentive. He declares that, “When the poor cried, Caesar cried too” (Shakespeare 3.1. 89). Later in his speech he says that, “ You all saw that on the Lupercal feast day I offered him a king’s crown three times, and he refused it three times” (Shakespeare 3.1. 93-94). Antony explains that Caesar was not ambitious; in fact he was benevolent to the poor and content with his current place in the government.

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

Brutus delivers his speech in a laudatory manner by conveying Caesar’s deeds and claiming he was ambitious, although Antony contradicts Brutus’ claims and says Caesar spurned the crown with the intent to merely rule as a de facto dictator. Brutus’ speech reveals his motives were truly for the benefit of Rome given his nationalistic tone and Antony’s speech was merely used to obscure his true motives, which was to embroil Rome in a series of civil wars to attain power. Brutus and Antony’s speeches consisted predominantly of Pathos and Ethos, but it is Antony who ultimately it is Antony who prevails because of his almost disingenuous attitude and even use of Logos which is seen when claims that reading Caesar’s will would dishonor his compeers and even Caesar

Read More
444 Words | 2 Pages

He also makes it a point not to bash on Caesar as he says “ Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol. His glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced for which he suffered death.” In the part Brutus says that his achievements should not be diminished, it adds to the point that it was something that just had to be done and it was nothing personal against Caesar.

Read More
754 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
1177 Words | 5 Pages

Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; and sure he is an honorable man” (III.ii.97-100). Antony says he offered Caesar the crown 3 times, and Caesar denied the crown all 3 times. Ambition can be defined as an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. Without directly saying that Caesar was not ambitious and disagree with Brutus because of his rules, he instead shows an example that Caesar was not ambitious, but then say that Brutus is an honorable man.

Read More

More about How Does Brutus Use Ethos In Antony's Speech

Related Topics

Open Document