Julius Caesar
The drama Julius Caesar examines the idea of rhetoric or persuasion, and
how it can influence individuals' lives. Antony's speech to the plebeians
determines the plot's resolution, which centers on Cassius's choice to have
Caesar die. Shakespeare believes that one of the most potent powers in the
universe is eloquence, which can overthrow monarchs and install them. The
drama compares Brutus's speech to Mark Antony's to investigate what
makes rhetoric powerful.
Antony's cheating and opportunity to speak last indicate his performance on
the pulpit. He appeals to the people's love of Rome and their knowledge by
using verbal sarcasm, ethos, logos, and pathos. But because Brutus lacks
comprehension and calculating reason, his speech falls flat with the
audience. At the heart of his argument, he calls the plebeians to "Censure
me in your wisdom, and awake your senses," but he provides no evidence of
Caesar's ambition.
Antony outperforms Brutus in terms of deceit and oratory at Caesar's
funeral. In a persuasive speech, he convinces the audience that Caesar has
to die. Then, for reasons that remain questionable even when naiveté is
taken into account, Brutus yields to Antony and leaves the Forum altogether.
For someone who denies the capacity to "stir men's blood," Antony is an
expert at draining the crowd with rhetoric and well-timed histrionics.
In his argument, Mark Antony makes excellent use of rhetoric. He succeeds
in convincing the plebeians that Brutus is a traitor. Using moving lines like
"Oh judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts" and "My heart is in the coffin
there with Caesar," he evokes the emotions of the audience at Caesar's
passing. He provides several examples to refute Brutus's claim that Caesar
was ambitious, including "I thrice presented him a kingly crown which he did
thrice refuse." The crowd's choice to reject Brutus is supported by these
counterexamples. His demand that Brutus be an "honorable man"
progresses from a comment to a censure.
Antony's speech is more impactful because he conveys his emotions to the
audience in an indirect manner. The audience is led but not coerced into
accepting his viewpoint, making them feel as though they are the ones who
came to it. Because of his comprehension of the audience, Antony is
ultimately the more effective speaker.
In the speech that follows, Antony does nothing more than lay the
groundwork for opposition. In a rhythm that soon challenges both notions, he
gradually strikes the notes of honor and ambition. In the beginning, Antony's
main tools are his blatant ambiguity about Brutus ("Yet Brutus says he was
ambitious") and Caesar ("If it were so, it was a grievous fault"), rhetorical
questions ("Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?"), and pretended intent ("I
speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke"). The cynical afterword Antony
adds to the funeral speech as the crowd leaves, "Now let it work: mischief,
thou art afoot/Take thou what course thou wilt!" is even more terrifying .
