What Is Marc Antony's Persuasive Speech

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Marc Antony’s Persuasiveness The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a play that explains the assassination of Julius Caesar and the civil war after his death through a tale of friendship and betrayal. In act III, scene ii of the play, Julius Caesar’s right-hand man, Marc Antony, is able to persuade the crowd at Caesar’s funeral to go against the conspirators and seek revenge for Caesar. Antony used great techniques to win over the crowd that was, moment earlier, all in favor of Brutus and were glad that he killed Caesar. In his speech, Marc Antony uses ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade that crowd. Ethos is relating to ethics or morals, pathos is related to emotion, and logos is related to logic or reasoning. Antony is …show more content…

For example, Antony uses real example of things that Caesar has done that disputes Brutus’s argument. Antony states “I thrice presented him a kingly crown,/ Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?”(3.2). Antony uses this example to make the crowd realize that Brutus’s reason may not suffice for killing Caesar. This is a real reason for the crowd to believe Antony over Brutus and helps persuade them to take Antony’s side. In addition, Antony shows the crowd that Caesar loved and cared for them, and once again, was not ambitious. Near the end of his speech, Marc Antony presents Caesars will and says “To every several man-- seventy-five drachmas./ Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,/ His private arbors and new-planted orchards”(3.2). Antony is saying that Caesar really did care for each and every citizen of Rome and was a very thoughtful leader. This also helps prove the idea that Caesar was not ambitious, but very loving of Rome and it’s people. Using logos helps Marc Antony realize that Brutus’s reasons for killing Caesar are not solid, they didn’t help Rome or its people, and they would be better off if Caesar was still