How Does Brutus Use Ethos In Antony's Funeral Speech
Comparing Brutus and Antony's funeral speeches from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" offers a profound insight into the art of persuasive oratory. Both orators possess distinct styles and objectives, making it a compelling exercise to evaluate which speech is superior in terms of effectiveness.
Brutus, driven by his noble intentions and adherence to republican principles, delivers a rational and logical speech. He employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos to sway the crowd to his perspective. One notable instance is when he establishes his credibility through ethos, stating, "Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe" (III, ii, 14-15). Here, he appeals to the audience's trust in his integrity, laying the groundwork for his argument. …show more content…
He asserts, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" (III, ii, 21-22), framing the act as a sacrifice for the greater good of the Republic. This logical appeal aims to convince the audience of the righteousness of his cause.
However, despite Brutus's eloquence and persuasive techniques, Antony's speech surpasses his in terms of emotional impact and strategic manipulation of the crowd's sentiments. Antony, while ostensibly paying tribute to Caesar, cleverly undermines Brutus's credibility and incites the crowd against the conspirators.
Antony masterfully utilizes pathos, evoking powerful emotions of grief and indignation among the listeners. His repetition of the phrase "But yesterday the word of Caesar might / Have stood against the world" (III, ii, 98-99) stirs the crowd's nostalgia for Caesar's former glory and fosters resentment towards his
Brutus, driven by his noble intentions and adherence to republican principles, delivers a rational and logical speech. He employs rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos to sway the crowd to his perspective. One notable instance is when he establishes his credibility through ethos, stating, "Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe" (III, ii, 14-15). Here, he appeals to the audience's trust in his integrity, laying the groundwork for his argument. …show more content…
He asserts, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" (III, ii, 21-22), framing the act as a sacrifice for the greater good of the Republic. This logical appeal aims to convince the audience of the righteousness of his cause.
However, despite Brutus's eloquence and persuasive techniques, Antony's speech surpasses his in terms of emotional impact and strategic manipulation of the crowd's sentiments. Antony, while ostensibly paying tribute to Caesar, cleverly undermines Brutus's credibility and incites the crowd against the conspirators.
Antony masterfully utilizes pathos, evoking powerful emotions of grief and indignation among the listeners. His repetition of the phrase "But yesterday the word of Caesar might / Have stood against the world" (III, ii, 98-99) stirs the crowd's nostalgia for Caesar's former glory and fosters resentment towards his