After tragedies, public speakers have taken advantage of their ability to voice their thoughts and opinions through speeches. By observing not only the speaker’s motivations but also their approach, the effectiveness of their speech can differ based on their execution. Strategically wording these speeches in their favor, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare demonstrates the immense power of words through the speeches of Marcus Brutus and Marc Antony. Theodore D. Roosevelt also deems himself a credible example of a speaker who used their platform to affect a crowd in some way.
Brutus uses a combination of logic and reasoning in his approach to ensure that the crowd understands why Julius Caesar had to be killed. Firstly, Brutus tells the audience
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The most common type of pathos that Antony used was in the form of sarcasm, which can be seen when he said, “The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious: if it were so, it was a grievous fault; and grievously hath Caesar answer’d it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest, (for Brutus is an honourable man; so they are all, all honourable men)” (III.ii.79-85). Antony’s emotional approach was completely effective on the crowd, and he was able to turn the people into a mob and start civil war by using reverse psychology. Antony uses reverse psychology by teasing the crowd with Caesar’s will, by constantly referring to the conspirators as honorable men, and saying that he does not want to turn the Romans against Brutus, even though he clearly does. The motivation behind Antony’s actions was completely selfish as he wanted to defend and avenge Caesar, gain power by giving himself credibility as Caesar’s right hand man, and unleash utter chaos in Rome by invoking civil war. Antony’s speech was able to completely reverse the effects that Brutus’ speech had simply because people care more about what agitates their emotions, rather than what logically makes more sense to