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Essay / Speech Analysis of Brutus and Antony
The speeches of Brutus and Antony in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar are two of the most famous and most studied speeches in literature. Both characters give their speeches at Caesar's funeral, and their speeches have a profound impact on the audience and the outcome of the play. This essay will analyze and compare the rhetorical strategies used by Brutus and Antony in their speeches, as well as the effectiveness of their arguments and appeals to the audience.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Brutus' speech is characterized by his use of logic and reason. He begins by addressing the crowd, calling them “Romans” and declaring that he loved Caesar, but he loved Rome more. This appeals to the public's sense of patriotism and duty to their country. Brutus then goes on to explain that he killed Caesar not out of envy or personal ambition, but out of love for Rome and a desire to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant. He uses logical reasoning to argue that Caesar's ambition posed a threat to Rome's freedom and democracy and that his death was necessary to preserve the republic. Brutus uses ethos, or credibility, by presenting himself as a noble and honorable man who acted in a manner of selflessness and concern for the common good. He also uses logos, or logical reasoning, in presenting a rational and strategic explanation for Caesar's assassination. However, his speech lacks emotion and fails to touch the crowd on a personal level. This results in the public remaining largely unmoved by his arguments and failing to rally around him. On the other hand, Antony's speech is emotionally charged and very convincing. He begins by acknowledging Brutus' honorable nature and asking the crowd for permission to speak at Caesar's funeral. This gesture of respect toward Brutus establishes Antony's credibility and goodwill toward the audience. He then uses pathos, or emotional appeal, by repeatedly referring to Caesar as "an honorable man" and recounting his acts of generosity and compassion toward the people of Rome. This creates a feeling of empathy and sympathy towards Caesar and turns the crowd against Brutus and the conspirators. Antony also uses logos in his speech in presenting evidence of Caesar's innocence and emphasizing the injustice of his murder. He strategically uses rhetorical questions and dramatic pauses to create suspense and stir the audience's emotions. He further strengthens his argument by displaying Caesar's will, which left gifts and goods to the citizens of Rome. This revelation arouses outrage and indignation among the crowd, leading to a riot and the downfall of the conspirators. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, Brutus and Antony use different rhetorical strategies to convince the audience and achieve their respective goals. Brutus relies on logic and reason to justify Caesar's assassination, while Antony exploits emotional appeal and strategic manipulation to turn the crowd against the conspirators. Although Brutus's speech is well structured and composed, it lacks the emotional impact and personal connection that Antony's speech succeeds in establishing. Antony's masterful use of ethos, pathos, and logos ultimately leads to the downfall of the conspirators and the triumph of Caesar's legacy..