Pathos, Logos And Ethos In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

The play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, is a tale of friendship and betrayal, full of men vying for political power in the city of Rome. Young and ambitious Marc Antony stands out amongst the group as vastly intelligent and well-spoken beyond his years. Antony uses his persuasive skills throughout the course of the play to hide his deceit as well as to change the minds of the Roman people. He does this through using devices that solidify his argument to readers. These persuasive devices are known as pathos, logos, and ethos. Pathos is a form of persuasion that mainly deals with the use of emotion. Logos and ethos are similar except that logos is linked to logic and ethos is used to implore ethics. Mark Antony is able to turn

Antony gives the crowd relevant examples of why the murder of Julius Caesar was unnecessary based on his prior actions. When speaking of a previous assembly, he explains, “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?” (Shakespeare 3.2.99-100). Antony takes the members of the group through a reasonable thought process of why they should be enraged over the conspirators. Based on what he says, eh makes it seem as though Caesar has done nothing to deserve his faith and should be avenged. On a similar note, Antony continues by revealing the will Caesar has left behind to his confused and conflicted audience. To the crowd, he remarks, “‘Tis good you know not that you are his heirs; For, if you should, O, what would come of it!” (Shakespeare 3.2.148-149). He logically knows that telling them of what they are to inherit will achieve nothing and only cause an emotional response. However, as a cunning way of achieving what he wants, Antony wishes the audience to be provoked by what they hear. This proves to be the literal final nail in the coffin of conspirators as after the will is read, the mobb beings to destroy the city and hunt the men responsible for