Julius Caesar Rhetorical Devices

703 Words3 Pages

Presenting a speech, so it is effective, is not always an easy task. For instance, in Julius Caesar, Brutus and Antony speak to the crowd back-to-back from each other, yet one speech in particular makes an impact on the crowd. After both monologues are given, it is crystal clear who is the most favorable of the two in the Roman’s eyes. One, in particular, used spectacular tactics so the crowd would change their point of view on the situation. However, the opposing man lacked the appropriate strategies, therefore it was not a hard decision for the crowd to choose who to side with. The answer to success and failure in these speeches is ethos, logos, and pathos. Consequently, it is obvious with all of the strategies used, who the real winner is. …show more content…

He takes a very formal standpoint when giving his speech. Antony, on the other hand, opens his by saying, “Friends, Romans, and countrymen” (Anderson 834). By taking this approach, he uses pathos and gives off more emotion by calling them his friends first. The honorable man Brutus, gives a formal speech in an extremely serious manner. He has everything planned out and is rational within his speech. Such as listing the reason Caesar had to die for. “I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him” (Anderson 831). His opposing force, Antony, has a calm tone that the citizens of Rome relate to. His persuasion techniques include pathos and he also uses a hyperbole. Antony says, “When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” (Anderson 835). Caesar actually crying is used as a misrepresentation to make the people believe he is just like them in a certain aspect. In other words, Antony knew who his audience was and how easy they could be manipulated, but Brutus did