How Does Julius Caesar Use Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of using language effectively for the purpose of persuasion. It is used in a lot of speeches in today’s world like for example, someone who would be running in politics would want whatever audience they’re talking to, to be persuaded and convinced of whatever idea they’re giving. In this case, they would use rhetoric. The play called Julius Caesar is about the great Roman leader and his rise to power and fall from power. In the play, a character named Antony was a deeply loyal follower of Julius Caesar and when Julius is betrayed by his companions, Antony cowardly took to their side, as to be allowed to talk at Caesar’s funeral. At the funeral, however, he gives a speech that turns the crowd against the conspirators. Antony’s strategies in the funeral speech proved effective and a good use of rhetorics.
Antony at first begins his speech with “friends, Romans, and countrymen” to show that they are all equal. It was more for them to listen to what he had to say and for them to trust him better. It was better for him to use this approach because the crowd wanted someone who could prove their credibility and consistency. Trying to use Pathos at first wouldn’t have been a good idea because the crowd was already convinced with the conspirators that Caesar was a tyrant and corrupt. He’s doing all of this to be trusted by the people of Rome, and also because he didn’t want to be killed by Brutus and the other conspirators. To further evaluate his first strategy, he also uses intentional irony as to look harmless to the audience. The audience was hostile at first because he was Caesar’s loyal companion but after his beginning with Ethos they were slightly