In William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar," two powerful speeches are given by Mark Antony and Marcus Brutus. Both speeches are delivered at Caesar's funeral, and each orator seeks to sway the Roman citizens to their side. Although both Mark Antony and Marcus Brutus deliver powerful speeches, Antony delivers the more effective speech because he appeals to the emotions of the people, provides evidence to support his claims, and undermines the credibility of the conspirators. Mark Antony appeals to the emotions of the people. Antony's use of rhetorical questions and repetition, such as "Brutus is an honorable man," is designed to challenge the credibility of Brutus and the other conspirators. Antony's use of rhetorical devices effectively manipulates the emotions of the crowd, who go from mourning Caesar to seeking revenge against the conspirators. Antony's emotional appeal …show more content…
Antony provides specific examples of Caesar's generosity and how he was betrayed by the conspirators, such as "He hath brought many captives home to Rome, whose ransoms did the general coffers fill." Antony's use of evidence helps to discredit the conspiracy and build sympathy for Caesar, further strengthening his argument. Antony's use of evidence connects to the thesis, as it demonstrates his effectiveness in building a persuasive argument. Some may argue that Marcus Brutus delivers the most effective speech because he appeals to the citizens' sense of duty and loyalty to Rome. Brutus emphasizes his love for Rome and his desire to protect it from tyranny, stating, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." While Brutus' appeal to duty and loyalty is powerful, it is ultimately undermined by his lack of evidence and his failure to anticipate the emotional response of the crowd. The counterargument and rebuttal connect to the thesis, as they demonstrate the relative weaknesses of Brutus' speech compared to