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Julius Caesar Rhetorical Devices Essay

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Shakespearean Rhetoric In order to learn how to use rhetorical devices successfully, you really have to have a true understanding of Shakespeare’s intent on words . The selected passages from Act III, scene II of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are the perfect tutorial for those who want to learn the basic rules of argumentation. This scene describes the events that took place after Caesar’s death. Brutus, who is the close friend of Caesar, is also one of his assassinators. He delivers an oration in order to defend himself. On the other hand, Mark Antony wants to persuade the audience that Brutus is guilty. He is not allowed to speak directly, which is why Antony uses special rhetorical devices. While reading the Act III, scene II of …show more content…

Brutus faces with the inner psychological drama, which is why his speech has two main goals. First, he tries to persuade the audience that the assassination of Caesar is the necessary action thats made in order to save Rome from trouble. Secondly, Brutus tries to persuade himself that he killed Caesar because this was his duty, not for his own purposes. The character begins his speech with the rhetorical device of antimetabole. He repeats the words in successive clauses while placing them in reverse grammatical …show more content…

As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him…(Act III, scene II).
Again, the usage of anaphora is very effective here. All the rhetorical devices used by Brutus are successful. He managed to get approval from the audience. However, his speech didnt bring him the final victory, as Mark Antony discredited his actions. According to the play, Mark Antony would be allowed to make a funeral speech for Caesar only if he did not blame the conspirators for Caesar’s death. However, his intention was opposite to the promise he gave. Antony’s speech is strong because he uses emotionally charged rhetoric in order to manipulate with the position of the audience. At the beginning of the speech the audience stands completely by the Brutus’s side:
Fourth Citizen: “Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here”.
First Citizen: “This Caesar was a tyrant” (Act III, scene II).
Antony’s speech begins by justifying the actions of Brutus. It seems so because the speaker uses the device of contrast:
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones… (Act III, scene

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In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Julius Caesar, Mark Antony uses rhetorical devices such as paralipsis, rhetorical questions, and verbal irony in his speech to the plebeians in order to plot them against the conspirators. During his speech to the plebians, Antony uses paralipsis in order to kindle curiosity and interest in the audience. Antony mentions to the plebians that he had Caesar’s will with him but tells them, “Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how much Caesar loved you” (3.2.152-153). By drawing attention to Caesar’s will, something Antony desperately wants to show the plebeians, but then dismissing the idea of reading it, Antony uses a type of verbal irony called paralipsis. Antony is aware that the contents

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Rhetorical Analysis: Marc Antony’s Funeral Speech in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar William Shakespeare, the author of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, had exceptional use of rhetoric when composing Marc Antony’s funeral speech for Julius Caesar. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the three main components of rhetoric, and were all portrayed to us within Antony’s speech. Shakespeare allowed Antony to pour intense emotion into this thoughtful speech, and it clearly resulted in great success. The main purpose or point of said speech was to persuade Antony’s audience to go against the conspirators and inform the Roman’s about Caesar’s tragic death.

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In the play "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" by Shakespeare, two individuals named Brutus and Antony give a funeral oration to the people of Rome in concern of the justification of Caesars death. Both of them share an opposite view towards the death of Caesar, Antony thinks his death was unjustified, while Brutus believes in the opposite. Despite the fact that Brutus was able to deliver a better ethical appeal. Antony delivers a more persuasive rhetorical speech since he appeals to the crowd more with his emotional and logical appeal Ethical appeal was used by both individuals in their funeral orations, evidently Brutus was able to execute a better ethical appeal than Antony. Brutus wanted to make the people of Rome feel like the death of Caesar was necessary for the sake of Rome.

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After reading excerpts from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, write an essay that compares Brutus’ speech with Marc Antony’s speech and argues the effectiveness of the rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos) used in each. Be sure to support your position with evidence from the texts. William Shakespeare writes a play about Julius Caesar’s assassination and the speeches his friends gave at his funeral. In the play, Brutus assassinated Caesar because he thought he was protecting Rome. He was saying that if Caesar got all the power he would most likely become vicious and make everyone his slaves.

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William Shakespeare, in his tragedy Julius Caesar, uses the rhetorical devices of a rhetorical question, repetition of the word ambitious, and direct reference in Antony 's speech to instigate the plebeians and persuade them to rebel against the conspirators. Antony pulls on the pathos, ethos, and logos of the audience to get them to exile the conspirators. Shakespeare uses a rhetorical question in Antony’s speech to get the plebeians to notice the wrongdoings of the conspirators and excite them to rebel. Antony discusses the money that Caesar left to the countrymen, and with sarcasm he states, “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (3.2.99).

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Mark Antony’s more persuasive speech In Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, the ruler of Rome, Caesar, was just murdered by secret party in the senate. Brutas, which was one of Caesar's closest companions, is a part of this secret party and he just delivered his speech to the people of Rome explaining why he had to murder Caesar. Mark Antony was not a part of this assignation and he gives a speech right after Brutus’s. Mark Antony is persuading the emotional people of Rome that Caesar was not ambitious like Brutus said.

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