Ethos In Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis

“The use of rational speech is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs” (Aristotle, Rhetoric). In Aristotle’s book Rhetoric he elaborates on the three rhetorical devices; ethos, logos, and pathos. These devices are found frequently in Shakespeare’s writings, particularly in Julius Caesar. Rhetorical devices are tools of persuasive writing which influence readers through appeals such as credibility, logic, and emotion. To begin, Ethos is a rhetorical device which appeals to credibility or authority. Ethos is a Greek work meaning ‘character’. “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” (Act III. scene ii. lines 82-117). Here Antony is demonstrating ethos. He is explaining his intentions, giving the audience reason to believe he is a credible figure. Ethos is also used in Brutus’s speech in Act III. “not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more” (Act III. Scene ii. line 24). Brutus explains why he turned against Caesar, who had supposedly been his best friend. By giving logical reason for his actions, Brutus is proving his reliability. Ethos is a rhetorical device which appeals to credibility in order to influence the opinion of an audience. Also, logos is a device of rhetoric used throughout …show more content…
Pathos is a Greek word meaning ‘experience’ or ‘suffering’. This rhetorical device influences audiences through the appeal of emotion. “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” (Act III. Scene ii. lines 82-117). In this example, emotion is used to create a persuasive argument with the people of Rome. Antony uses pathos throughout his speech in act III. “Bear with me, my heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me” (Act III. scene ii. lines 102-104). Here Antony is prompting the audience to feel empathetic toward him. Through emotion, pathos is used to sway the opinion of