Julius Caesar's speech

Julius Caesar: Brutus’ Speech Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, Caesar is killed by conspirators who believe he is too ambitious and needs to be prevented from going too far. Through the use of rhetorical devices, rhetorical appeals, and structural devices, Brutus, the main conspirator, persuades the crowd as to how the murder of Caesar was a noble act that would benefit them all. Brutus appeals to the crowd through the use of rhetorical appeals to unify the crowd and make them understand the conspirators actions. In lines 2-3, Brutus uses logos when he says, “Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause and be silent, that you may hear.” He uses logic to show how it is logical for them to be quiet so they can listen to his speech. By calling them Romans, country men and lovers he shows how he is speaking to them as if they were in the same social level. Brutus continues using rhetorical appeals sand in lines 3-5 he says, “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor that you may believe.” Brutus appeals to their moral values by showing how he is honorable and respectful therefore they crowd can trust him. By saying he is honorable, it shows how the conspiracy must be honorable as well. Brutus continues to appeal to the crowd in lines 5-6, “Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may be the better judge.” Brutus appeals to the crowd by humbling himself down and tells the crowd to open their mind and judge the situation. By humbling himself down and being honest to the crowd, he urges the crowd to accept the conspirators actions. Through the use of rhetorical appeals, Brutus successfully unifies the crowd and makes the understand how their actions were for the betterment of Rome. Brutus convinces the crowd that Caesars assassination was a utilitarian situation through the use of several rhetorical devices. In lines 9-11, Brutus says, “Not that I love Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” Brutus tells the people he killed Caesar for the benefit of the people. He emphasizes on the fact that it was not a personal problem but that it was for the benefit of the majority of the people because he loved Caesar and thought he was a respected and honorable man. In lines 18-22, Brutus states, “Who is here so base… who is here so rude…who is here so vile…” Brutus accuses the crowd with these three statements of being slaves and not loving their country. He says that if someone does not agree with the conspirators actions, then they do not love their country and would rather be slaves. Brutus uses an isocolon in lines 16-18 when he states, “There is tears for his love, joy, for his fortune, honor, for his valor, and death for his ambition.” Brutus states that Caesar brought his death unto himSelf by being too ambitions and essentially gets the blame off of his shoulders. He also states that his death, although necessary, is still very emotional and he needs to be remembered. Through the use of rhetorical devices, Brutus persuades the crowd into believing that his assassination was for the benefit of everyone. Brutus persuades the crowd into believing that the act of murdering Caesar was acceptable through the use of rhetorical questions which question their liberty. In lines 21-22, Brutus asks, “Who here is so vile that will not love his country?” By saying this, Brutus speaks upon the people’s patriotism towards Rome. His reasoning being that in order for Romans to be free, Caesar had to had been killed. In lines 12-13, Brutus asks the crowd, “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead to live all free men?” Brutus implies that they were all slaves under Caesar’s rule which just aids him in convincing the crowd that Caesar’s death was necessary in order for the Roman people to live in freedom. This rhetorical device helps the conspirators because it shows how it an act that benefited the majority of the people. In lines 20-21, Brutus continues, “Who is here so rude, that he would not be a Roman?” In this question, Brutus makes it very difficult for anyone to contradict him because if anyone is to disagree, they are admitting to not being truly Romans but instead being slaves. If anyone contradicts him, they are essentially insulting themselves and are agreeing to being rude which is not what Romans aspire to be. Towards the end of his speech, Brutus asks, “Who here is so base that would be a bondman?” Once again Brutus presumes that if Caesar were living, they would all be slaves. This complex question forces the people to agree with him and he shows how the act wasn't personal but was a utilitarian act. Brutus persuades the crowd into supporting the conspiracy through rhetorical questions which appealed to the Roman’s sense of liberty and patriotism. Brutus successfully unifies the crowd and convinces them that the conspirators actions were acceptable through the use of rhetorical devices. Part of the reason why the crowd was so easy to persuade was because his speech appealed their sense of freedom, liberty and patriotism. Although he fails to support his claims with evidence of any kind, the crowd failed to realize this mistake or the fact that the whole thing was based on a “what if” situation. Regardless of this, the crowd is persuaded to believe and agree with the conspirators actions