Examples Of Guilt In Julius Caesar
Persuaded by Antony’s logic the crowd started to realize that Caesar was not ambitious. Consequently, Antony used pathos, the appeal to emotions, to drag the audience into feeling guilty for doubting Caesar and to make them feel curious about the contents of Caesar’s will. To begin with, Antony asks the crowd, “You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?” (III.ii.101-102). With this question, Antony creates a feeling of guilt within the audience by indirectly saying that there is no reason for them to suddenly hate the man they all adored. This feeling of guilt helped Antony win the audience over because they felt like they believed Caesar to be ambitious and selfish way too quickly and easily.
The audience started to revert back to loving Caesar. Finally, to leave the audience in the greatest feeling of guilt and curiosity, Antony leaves the audience on a cliffhanger by not reading Caesar's will: “Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you” (III.ii.139-140). As a result of this statement, the audience felt the sudden urge to know the contents of the will because they want to know how much Caesar loved them. This statement peaked their curiosity for Caesar’s will and made them regret believing that Caesar did not love them and only loved power. Using emotions to his advantage, Antony won the audience over Brutus by making them feel guilty and increasing their curiosity over Caesar’s will.
The audience started to revert back to loving Caesar. Finally, to leave the audience in the greatest feeling of guilt and curiosity, Antony leaves the audience on a cliffhanger by not reading Caesar's will: “Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it; It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you” (III.ii.139-140). As a result of this statement, the audience felt the sudden urge to know the contents of the will because they want to know how much Caesar loved them. This statement peaked their curiosity for Caesar’s will and made them regret believing that Caesar did not love them and only loved power. Using emotions to his advantage, Antony won the audience over Brutus by making them feel guilty and increasing their curiosity over Caesar’s will.