Julius Caesar Rhetorical Devices

Antony didn’t sugar coat how the death of Caesar happened. Shakespeare uses many literary terms in his play Julius Caesar, in the play Brutus and many of his acquaintances are plotting Caesar’s, the future ruler of Rome, death. When death comes for Caesar the people of Rome are furious, that is until Brutus gives a persuasive Funeral speech convincing that the death of Caesar was done in Rome’s favor. Antony, who loved Caesar very much, had nothing to do with his death; he gave a very long speech that then re-convinced the romans that Caesar was an asset to their nation. In order to convince the Romans, Antony used many rhetorical devices such as, Verbal Irony, repetition, and Rhetorical Questions. Throughout Antony’s speech he stressed

“Brutus is an honourable man…” (Act III, Scene 2). Antony really wants to emphasize that Brutus was honourable. He is doing this in a sarcastic way, because what honourable man would kill someone the romans loved if it was in their best interest to have him as ruler. “Another example is when he says that he should do the men who killed Caesar wrong” (Act III, Scene 2). Throughout this he is just trying to get the point across, and let the people know he is serious. He later then says he is a good guy who is basically honourable and will not do them wrong. Antony continues to use rhetorical devices and literary terms such and rhetorical questions. The rhetorical questions that Antony used are for the purpose of getting the romans to think, but not to actually answer it. Antony first said, “Which he did thrice refuse, was this ambition?” (Act III, Scene 2). Antony asked or stated this question to get the people thinking about the ambition of Caesar. Following, he later asked, “What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? (Act III, Scene 2). Again to get the people pondering the idea of whether or not they should mourn for the death of Caesar. After Antony’s speech they were no longer confounded about who they believed, Antony or