Julius Caesar Pathos Analysis

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are modes of persuasion often used to convince audiences. Ethos pertains to the speaker’s expertise, credibility, and honesty. Pathos relates to the speaker’s feelings and emotions, while logos is an appeal to reason and logic. In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Antony uses these elements to nullify the effect of Brutus’ convincing explanation of Caesar’s murder and to change the minds of the plebeians. Antony’s speech had an immense impact on the minds and opinions of the plebeians for he was able to turn the crowd against Brutus. Antony uses ethos to show how well he knows Caesar and how Brutus should not be trusted. At the beginning of his speech, Antony gives his credentials by saying how Caesar “was [his] friend, faithful and just to [him]” (III, ii, 87). This quote from Antony’s speech demonstrates the persuasive tool of Ethos because he is saying how he knows Caesar personally and is a very good friend of his. This
Later on in Antony’s eulogy, he holds Caesar’s will in his hand, and the mob demands to hear it. Although Antony refuses to read what is in the will, he still does so by telling them that “hearing the will of Caesar/ It will inflame you, it will make you mad/ ‘Tis good you know not that you are his heirs” (III, ii, 145-148). This is an example of pathos because Antony is purposely telling them what is in Caesar’s will. By doing so, he is manipulating the audience by appealing to the feeling of anger. Antony takes a moment to pause, and says “bear with me; my heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me” (III, ii, 108-109). Antony is purposely breaking down and taking a moment to pause so that the crowd will show him sympathy. This will also make the crowd feel guilty about betraying Caesar. The feeling of guilt and betrayal against Caesar will make them turn their heads against