Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion and speaking or writing, using various figures of speech and literacy devices. In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, rhetoric is frequently used. Julius Caesar becomes emperor, upsetting many citizens of Rome, including the senators. The senators develop a plan to kill Caesar on the ides of March. A notable example is Cassius’s speech to Brutus in Act 1, when Cassius successfully convinces Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius is a politician leading the plot to kill Caesar. Cassius believes he is superior to Caesar, secretly resenting that he is above him in society. His hatred becomes more prevalent as the plan is finalized. Brutus is unsure about joining the conspiracy, but

Cassius uses pathos to compel Brutus to question his own beliefs. Cassius recounts a time when Caesar had a fever in Spain that left him weak and sickly. According to Cassius, “The blood drained from his cowardly lips, and that selfsame eye, whose stare awes the world, lost its sparkle. (...) Give me something to drink, Titinius,’ like a sick girl. Ye gods! It amazes me that a man so lacking in courage is able to outdistance the pack and become the emperor” (1.2. 121-129). Cassius evokes the emotions of pride and pity. He makes Caesar seem feeble and vulnerable, discrediting his immense sense of pride and narcissistic personality. He uses these emotions to lead into his next point, where he questions how a weak and feeble man is suitable to be emperor. Furthermore, Cassius defames Caesar’s character while subtly hinting that Brutus

In his speech, Cassius states that, ““I was born as free as Caesar. So were you. We’ve both been fed as well. We can both endure the cold of winter as well as he can” (1.2. 96-98). Cassius breaks down Caesar’s identity, somewhat simplifying Caesar’s identity, to explain that he is not superior to them. Cassius, Caesar, and Brutus are all human, therefore, they are capable of becoming emperor. Furthermore, Cassius makes another comparison between Brutus and Caesar. He says, ““Say them, and each rolls of the tongue. Weight them; they are of equal weight. Conjure with them: ‘Brutus’ will summon up a supernatural spirit as effectively as ‘Caesar’” (1.2. 142-145). Similarly, Cassius uses logic to explain that the men are equal, instead of the view that they are inferior to Caesar. Cassius appeals to Brutus’ sense of reason and logic to assure Brutus to join the conspiracy. Logos are effective because they present logical reasoning that is difficult to argue with. Claims are hard to dismiss because they are inarguable because of the cause and effects, correlations, or simple