Analyzing Rhetoric in Julius Caesar Killing (Essay Sample)

Rhetoric in Julius Caesar Killing
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Rhetoric in Julius Caesar Killing
Killing of Julius Caesar was evidently not an act of mere brutal murder but a moment that changed history. Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar shows a group of Roman leaders in a conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar, and a resulting causing chaos to erupt in the city of Rome. Brutus and Antony uses various rhetoric strategies, especially Antony’s effective oratory skill during their speeches to sway the crowd in order to have their support.
The three men with the conspiracy to kill Caesar use their skills to influence one another into believing in the cause. However, each individual in the play has a different motive, characteristics and different perspectives. Cassius employs rhetoric successfully to coax Brutus to join his cause. Cassius uses his perceptions to convince Brutus to discuss the influence, danger and growing powers of Julius Caesar. Cassius uses rhetoric tactics to convince a man who is loyal to Caesar; first he must cripple Brutus’ devotion to Julius Caesar and evoke Brutus’s civil responsibility. Thus, Cassius uses juxtaposition, a rhetorical device on Brutus. This strategy of comparison works wonders on Brutus.
He outlines Caesar’s weaknesses and shortcomings thereby juxtaposing Caesar to ordinary men. He tells Brutus that Caesar is just a man like any other men in Rome. To drive his point home, he even compares Brutus to Caesar, prompting him to question why Caesar’s name should be sounded more than Brutus’. Also, he uses rhetoric questions on Brutus in asking why Caesar should be treated like a god while other people are including him are treated like just common people. Therefore Brutus is flattered to believe that such ordinary and weak individual should not be allowed to have power, hence finally he joins the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar.
In a feigned letter addressed to Brutus, Cassius lies to him that the audience wants to him to take the powers. Therefore during his speech in front of the audience he does not hide his involvement in the conspiracy and assassination of Caesar. He justifies the murder of Caesar to the audience during his speech. During his speech Brutus also uses different rhetoric strategies such as use of antithesis where he compares some acts as important to other despite being of equal importance. He states that he does not Caesar less but that he loves Rome more. Pointing this out convinces the crowd that what he did was for the good of all Romans. These are contrasting ideas but he heightens his actions to make more sense. Although it the other case, people are led to believe in his honor.
Further, Brutus effectively uses rhetorical questions to convince the crowd into believing him. For example he asks such questions, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (3.224). Using such rhetorical questions make people understand that it is better Caesar to die so as they can have the freedom. Brutus eloquent use of these questions creates a connection between him and the crowd, thus easily influencing them. The mention of freedom and words that resonates with Romans helps convinces the crowd as well. Another figure of speech Brutus has in his dispose is use of repetition to drive his manifest. He repeats phrases and questions during his speech. Repetition creates consistency and effect in his speech. The eloquent and brief speech convinces people to believe and support in what he did.
Antony employs the tactic of emotional appeal to the crowd. Knowing that he is not in the side of the crowd, he must appeal to them that he feels the same thing as them. A strong classical rhetoric approach. He starts his oratory