Julius Caesar Summary Essay Example
Julius Caesar Summary Essay Example

Julius Caesar Summary Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1292 words)
  • Published: October 13, 2016
  • Type: Analysis
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In act III, scene ii William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus and Antony both deliver speeches to the roman public at Caesar funeral. Both of their purpose in speaking to the roman citizens to defend their belief regarding Caesar’s assassination and convince the audience. In the following essay, I will illustrate Antony’s speech was more rhetorically powerful than Brutus. I will analyze the strength, credibility and effectiveness of each speech based on the insight of Aristotle. Antony’s speech was more powerful than Brutus can be evaluated by finding the strength of each speech.

According to Aristotle, strong speeches have a balance of both appeals of argument (logical and emotional). If both logical and emotional appeals are not incorporated, the speech wouldn’t be strong. Logical appeals use supporting reaso

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ns convince an audience of a certain point and emotional appeals target the emotion of the audience by appealing to imagery, pity and nostalgia to create some kind of connection with the speaker. Brutus speech exemplifies the use of logical appeals to justify his position regarding Caesar death.

He provides reasons to convince the audience that Caesar needed to die. For examples, he offers the roman citizens a reason for why Caesar had to die, when he claims that if Caesar was alive the people of rome would be turned into slaves. As he states, “had you rather were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free man? ”. The way in which Brutus employs this appeal of argument is incorrect. This is because he offers no supporting evidence and even ignores evidence.

On the other hand, Antony’s

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speech contains the use of logical appeals to justify his position regarding Caesars death. He provides reason to convince the audience that Caesar should not have been killed. For example, he clearly provides the roman citizens with a reason for why Caesar did not deserve to die, namely that he was not ambitious. He does this by provoking the crowd to recall that Caesar “bought many captives home to Rome”. Clearly, the way in which Antony employs this appeal of argument is correct.

This is because he explains his reasons by offering strong supporting evidence that is true and acknowledged. Brutus speech exemplifies the use of emotional appeals to support his position regarding Caesars death. He targets the emotions of the audience by appealing to imagery and pity. For example, his appeal to imagery is shown in the film when he points the dagger towards himself, claiming “I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death”. Nevertheless, the way in which Brutus employs this appeal of argument is incorrect.

He didn’t reinforce logical points by creating imagery and pity. For example, he never provides any supporting evidence from Caesars past that proves what he is saying is true, thus making is appeal imagery useless. In contrast, Antony’s speech exemplifies the use of emotional appeals to support his position regarding Caesars death. He targets the emotions of the audience by appealing to imagery. For example, Antony’s appeal to imagery is displayed in the film when he enters the pulpit carrying Caesars dead body.

Later in his speech, he uses the image of Caesars will further

connect with the audience. He begins to waves around the will of Caesar while stating “But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar.. ’tis his will... bequeathing.. a rich legacy.. unto their issue. Additionally, he encourages the audience to come even closer in order to “make a ring about the corpse of Caesar”, while he begins to point out each of Caesars brutal stab wounds, inflicted by the very men who Caesar trusted. Clearly the way in which Antony employs this appeal of argument is correct.

This is because his use of imagery do not stand alone, but rather reinforce logical justifications for why Caesar did not deserve to die. Additionally, he is encouraging a higher level of reflection to a complex problem. Credible speeches incorporate both appeals of argument (logical and emotional) correctly. If logical and emotional appeals are used incorrectly the speech is not as credible. Brutus ignores supporting evidence which shows that Caesar did not deserve to die for the good of Rome.

For example, he claims that he “slew [his] best lover for the good of rome”, in order to prevent him from becoming a vicious dictator. However, he ignores vital evidence which proves the opposite, namely that Caesar turned down the crown three times. On the other hand Antony said “I thrice presented him a kingly crow, which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? ”. Additionally he also mention, in the death he has left to “every several man, seventy-five drachmas and his private arbours and new planted orchards. He shared with audience his own personal experience with Caesar, which displays his observations that was not

hungry and only wanted the best for the citizens of Rome. Secondly, the evidence he is pointing out is true and has been acknowledged by the public. it shows Antony used correct logical arguments. When it come to emotional appeals, Brutus appeals to Pity when he claims that he does weep for Caesar as a beloved friend, but made the difficult choice to murder him in spite of this because his ambition was a threat to the republic.

The way Brutus present his appeal of argument to the audience is incorrect this is because his use of imagery and pity stand alone, instead of reinforcing strong logical justifications for his actions. In contrast, Antony’s appeal to pity is shown when he begins to cry for Caesar in middle of his speech. Weeping he states, “bear with me; my heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me. This display of emotion has a large impact on the audience, instantly bringing them over to his side.

As one citizen states immediately after Antony’s appeal to pity, “me thinks there is much reason in his saying”. Antony’s appeal to nostalgia is evident when he encourages the plebeians to recall the reasons why they once had great love for Caesar: “you all did love him once, not without cause”. For example anecdotes of Caesars historical military pursuits, which brought rome great wealth, were at one time publicly acknowledged by the citizens of rome. Clearly, Antony implies his appeal correctly, which makes speech more credible. According to Aristotle, effective speeches convince and persuade the audience.

When the

speech is unable to retain the support the audience, the speech is not as effective. Brutus was able to convince the crowed with his speech but he couldn’t retain it. as he was giving his speech the crowd were responding him. the crowed responded “live, brutus! Live, live! ” and additionally, “Ceaser’s btter parts shall be crown’d in Brutus”. However, When anotony started his speech, Brutus started to lose his support. Antony was more convincing and effective on his speech. The crowd responded by saying “there’s not a nobler man in rome than antony”.

His speech had a balance between logical and emotional appeals. Even though crowd were supporting brutus first but Antony was able to gained the support from his effective speech. He provided enough evidence and example from past to the citizen which made him more effective during his speech, where brutus were not. After all arguments it proves that Antony’s speech was rhetorically more powerful than Brutus. Antony used correct logical and emotional appeal with lots of evidence and Brutus used logical and emotional appeal but incorrectly. Therefore, Antony’s speech had more strength, creditability and effectiveness.

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