Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, Caesar's greatest supporter Antony expertly utilizes repetition and pathos to incite a once-peaceful crowd of mourners to a violent angry mob. In the beginning of Antony’s funeral oration for Julius Caesar he says “Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest - / For Brutus is an honorable man; / So are they all, all honorable men” (3.2.81-83). Antony begins by acknowledging that he has been given the permission to speak at the funeral and he notes that they are “honorable men”. However, as the speech progresses, Antony subtly alters his tone each time he repeats the phrase. Every time Antony repeats that phrase he adds a note of sarcasm. This gradually erodes the credibility

By invoking Caesar's spirit, he is appealing to the Romans' emotional attachment to their beloved leader. He suggests that Caesar's spirit is seeking revenge for his unjust murder, and this creates a sense of anger and resentment within the crowd. Additionally, the use of Ate, the goddess of discord and mischief, and the imagery of Caesar's spirit coming hot from hell, creates a sense of fear and unease within the crowd. Antony is essentially using fear to motivate the Romans into action, urging them to take up arms and fight against those who have wronged them.The use of the phrase "Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war" is particularly powerful, as it evokes the image of chaos and violence. This phrase suggests that the only way for the Romans to honor Caesar's memory is through violent revenge, and this stirs the crowd into a frenzy. Overall, Antony's use of pathos in this quote is effective in turning the Romans from mourners into a violent mob, as he appeals to their emotions and creates a sense of anger, fear, and