In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Julius Caesar,” Brutus and Antony portrayed two antagonizing reactions after Caesar’s regicide. This scene not only lays the framework for the rest of the play, but also exemplifies the personality traits of Brutus and Antony. Their persuasion throughout their monologues helps to rally the plebeians in support of their causes. In response, this scene marks a turning point in the play and subsequently foreshadows Brutus’ murder. It shows how Brutus’ actions and words eventually lead to his decimation, especially with the help of Antony’s coaxing of the plebeians.
In his eulogy, Brutus attempts to express to the plebeians the necessity of his actions. He tries to justify his crime by pursuing the plebeians that the regicide did not benefit him, but benefits everyone. He uses ethos and logos multiple times throughout his eulogy in order to appeal to the plebeians’ trust and logic. Brutus said, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves; than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men” (III.ii.22-24). In order to project the assumption that only the worst could come from …show more content…
He repeatedly refers to Brutus as an honorable man, but the more he speaks the more he says quite the opposite. Antony tries to reveal to the plebeians that if Brutus really lived up to his reputation as an honorable man, he would not have murdered Caesar. He precedes to successfully discredit Brutus, turning the plebeians against him. Antony uses verbal irony again when he says, “I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke…” when in fact the purpose of his speech was to in fact disprove Brutus (III.ii.100). He wanted to manipulate the plebeians into seeing that the conspirers’ actions did not aim to benefit Rome, but in fact that they took their actions simply out of fear. By using verbal irony, Antony gainsu their sympathy and
In his eulogy, Brutus attempts to express to the plebeians the necessity of his actions. He tries to justify his crime by pursuing the plebeians that the regicide did not benefit him, but benefits everyone. He uses ethos and logos multiple times throughout his eulogy in order to appeal to the plebeians’ trust and logic. Brutus said, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves; than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men” (III.ii.22-24). In order to project the assumption that only the worst could come from …show more content…
He repeatedly refers to Brutus as an honorable man, but the more he speaks the more he says quite the opposite. Antony tries to reveal to the plebeians that if Brutus really lived up to his reputation as an honorable man, he would not have murdered Caesar. He precedes to successfully discredit Brutus, turning the plebeians against him. Antony uses verbal irony again when he says, “I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke…” when in fact the purpose of his speech was to in fact disprove Brutus (III.ii.100). He wanted to manipulate the plebeians into seeing that the conspirers’ actions did not aim to benefit Rome, but in fact that they took their actions simply out of fear. By using verbal irony, Antony gainsu their sympathy and