Dissonance drives conflict. It is also highlights the opposition of two sides. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare expertly characterizes Brutus and Antony into foil roles to utilize the advantages of their dissonance. Brutus is easily swayed and relies on logic and values to justify his actions. Antony, on the other hand, utilizes rhetoric and manipulation to guide others to where he would like them to go. The use of Brutus and Antony as foils, specifically in the speech scene, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each. The situations that highlight the contrasting qualities of Brutus and Antony the most are the funeral speeches each gives after the assassination. The juxtaposition of the two styles amplifies the foil nature of their relationship. Brutus takes a logical, sensible approach to convincing the masses that his actions were justified. His
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Brutus offers that Caesar possesses the power to enslave all of Rome and has the ambition and power to do so. He directly tells this to his audience of plebeians, letting them know it exactly how it is. His entire argument hinges on the ability of the crowd to see his logic and agree with it. He is unable to realize that some people may have ill intentions, his greatest weakness, and gives Antony the chance to speak. Antony, in a complete inversion, does not let the crowd make their own decision. Through manipulation and cleverly used rhetoric, Antony deftly leads the crowd to the conclusion that the conspirators were wrong in their actions. He uses his strength of subliminally proving his point to capitalize on Brutus’ blind trust. .He also excels in applying the emotional appeals that Brutus neglected. He finishes his eulogy with the line “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. (weeps)”
Brutus offers that Caesar possesses the power to enslave all of Rome and has the ambition and power to do so. He directly tells this to his audience of plebeians, letting them know it exactly how it is. His entire argument hinges on the ability of the crowd to see his logic and agree with it. He is unable to realize that some people may have ill intentions, his greatest weakness, and gives Antony the chance to speak. Antony, in a complete inversion, does not let the crowd make their own decision. Through manipulation and cleverly used rhetoric, Antony deftly leads the crowd to the conclusion that the conspirators were wrong in their actions. He uses his strength of subliminally proving his point to capitalize on Brutus’ blind trust. .He also excels in applying the emotional appeals that Brutus neglected. He finishes his eulogy with the line “My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. (weeps)”