Lukas Wiechert Mr. Ioannidis English 3rd Hr. 10B 21 May 2024 Brutus’s Duty and Antony’s Rhetoric Brutus and the conspirators ended up assassinating Caesar but in return they had many consequences to get around. One being the funeral for Caesar and his celebration of life in which Antony as well as Brutus had to make a speech to the commoners of Rome. What speech is better is determined by their stature, thoughts, and emotions. Brutus uses a style to justify Caesar’s assassination. He appeals to the audience’s sense of reason by presenting a logical argument. “Brutus spoke to the crowd of people and convinced them that Caesar’s death was a good thing and that they should all be happy it is over with” (Mulready). Caesar's ambition would have been bad for Rome. …show more content…
“From the beginning of the play, certain characters demonstrate powerful authority. Antony makes Caesar’s authority clear by saying, “I shall remember: When Caesar says ‘Do this’, it is performed” (Mulready). In which, Antony then undermines Brutus’s argument through repetition and irony. By repeatedly referring to Brutus as an honorable man, Antony uses doubt on Brutus’s integrity. Antony’s use of pathos, or emotional appeal, significantly enhances the persuasiveness of his speech. He presents Caesar not as an ambitious tyrant, but as a compassionate leader who cares for his people. Antony tell’s Caesar’s refusal of the crown thrice and shows his will, which leaves money to the citizens of Rome. These things tranquilize Caesar and paint him as a good person of Rome. In conclusion, while Brutus’s speech is more to reason and noble duty, Antony’s speech goes through its masterful use of emotional appeal, repetition, and rhetorical devices of questioning. Antony’s ability to engage with the audience’s emotions and subtly ignore Brutus’s argument showcases the power of rhetorical devices and its impact on public