Julius Caesar: Power Of Language, Speech, And Written Words

The play Julius Caesar shows the power of language, speech, and written words, through many examples. One instance was when Brutus and Antony gave their speeches at Caesar’s funeral, and both of them swayed the crowd. Another case was when Cassius first convinced Brutus to join the conspiracy. Finally, it was shown again when Caesar was convinced to go to the Senate meeting, where he was later killed. The power of language, speech, and written words is displayed in these examples and several other times throughout the play. The best example of the power of speech in Julius Caesar was when Brutus and Antony gave their speeches at Caesar’s funeral. When Brutus prepared to give his speech, the audience was originally furious with him due to the
At first, Caesar was determined to go to the meeting, but his wife, Calpurnia, begged him not to go. After a while, he consented, and decided to not go. However, Decius Brutus came by, and Caesar told him to let the Senate know that he would not be coming. Decius questioned him further about it, and Caesar told him to tell everyone in the Senate that he would not come because he chose not to. However, he told Decius that he was not coming specifically because Calpurnia insisted he not go, and had dreamed bad dreams, warning that something bad could happen. Decius talked him into going though, and reinterpreted the dream, saying that it meant positive things, not danger. In the end, Caesar changed his mind, and announced, “How foolish do your dreams seem now, Calpurnia!... Give me my robe, for I will go.” (2. 2. 105-107). Here, Caesar has changed his mind again, and has decided to go to the Senate meeting, not worrying about potential dangers. All in all, the power of language is evident in this scene when Caesar went from being determined to go to the Senate meeting, to changing his mind due to what Calpurnia told him, to deciding to go again over what Decius said to him. In the end, there were plenty of examples in Julius Caesar about the power of language, speech, and written words. It was shown in the speeches at Caesar’s funeral, which quickly changed the citizens’ minds again and again. Also, when Cassius first tried to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy. Finally, it was seen when Caesar made the decision to go to the Senate meeting, where he was later killed. These were just a few examples out of many. Overall, the play shows the powerful influence of language, speech, and written