Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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No matter what the circumstances, people always look for someone to blame. When Caesar was murdered the Plebeians needed someone to blame for what happened. Despite Brutus’s honor and respect among the Romans, Antony gave the more convincing speech at Caesar’s funeral by having an emotional impact on the Romans, therefore convincing them that an injustice had been done. Brutus first spoke at Caesar’s funeral with the goal of justifying his actions to the plebeians. Out of the three rhetorical appeals Brutus used Logos the least. Throughout most of his speech he avoided explaining why he participated in murdering Caesar. He kept on telling the Plebeians that he eventually would tell them but he never truly told them why he did. Ultimately …show more content…

Antony used a different form of Ethos than Brutus does. While Brutus spoke about how honorable he is, Antony simply speaks in blank verse. Speaking in blank verse was something only honorable nobles did so by doing this Antony established an authority aura to the plebeians. With pathos Antony kicks it off with bringing Caesar’s body onto the stage. He brings the Roman’s dead leader onto the stage, stab wounds and all. Antony knew this would have an impact on the plebeians and it certainly did. Finally Antony destroys Brutus’ argument. First off he reminds the plebeians that Caesar truly did care about all the people of Rome. “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” (III.2.90). He also brings up how he offered Caesar the crown three times and three times he refused it. By painting a good picture of Caesar the plebeians are starting to question Brutus’ speech. They start to wonder if Rome would actually be better off without Caesar. Antony planted the seed for the plebeians to turn against the conspirators. Proving Caesar to not be ambitious convinced the Romans that Brutus and the rest of the conspirators were at fault and resulted in them rebelling against the conspirators who then fled from