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Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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Bennett Julius Caesar Essay In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appeals to Desseus Brutus’ honor, the betrayal of Rome and Caesars prestige in regard to the plebians' tyranny. Noble Brutis speaks of Caesar’s betrail and ambition, however preceding his oration on Caesar's death is contradicted by Antony the reversal elucidated by his discrete rhetoric, further emphasized by the repute of Caesar in the public eye. Antony, compelling the plebeians, influenced them to “rise and mutiny(3.2.143)” by contrasting Brutus’ “ambition(3.2.101)” with the benevolence of Caesar. Marc Antony appeals to Bruits' disloyalty and ambition, in his speech to the plebeians preceding the death and funeral of Caesar. Antony hints at irony to sway the masses, …show more content…

Let not a traitor live! (3.2.217)” in reference to Bruits an Honorable man” exemplifies the function of his irony as for brutis as a traitor which has a dishonest connotation and is not honest. Repetition of “ambition” contradicts Brutis’ notion of Caesar's ambition and implies that Brutis strives for what Caesar stood against, ambition, referenced by recollection of offering him the crown “which he did thrice refuse (3.2.106)”. Questioning the instated lack of Caesar's ambition, Antony references “Yet Brutis says he was ambitious (3.2.102)” later followed by the irony of “For Brutis is an Honorable man” flipping the narrative and …show more content…

The connotation of brutish beasts, as disloyal and lawless, which employs alliteration to form a direct connection to Brutis, and the statement of “The evil that men do lives after them (3.2.84)” implying that in the death of Caesar, Brutis must pay for his mutiny. In his attempts incitement of mutiny and rage and betrayal, he references reward, in the form on Caesar's will, along with the physical body of Caesar. Antony uses Caesar’s will to add physical loss to the acceptance of Brutis and the conspirators. Referencing the death of Pompey “Knew you not Pompey(1.1.42)” he appeals to their “senseless(1.1.39)” state to sway the people from loyalty. He uses repetition from Brutis’ speech in “Friends, Romans, countrymen(3.2.82)” contrasting “Romans, countrymen, and lovers(3.2.14)” adding friends in reference to his friendship with Caesar, implying that he values friendship and loyalty to his friend. Additional contrasts are also apparent as brutus betrayed Caesar, whom he called a friend. Repetition, wrong and the wronging of conspirators “Brutus wrong(3.2.135)” “Cassius wrong(3.2.135)” starkly contrasted by “I will not do them wrong(3.2.137)” as killing somebody due to their actions and “ambition(3.2.143)” and the unlawful and treasonous murder of Julius Caesar have no similarity.

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