Julius Caesar Rhetorical Devices Essay

Rhetorical devices enhance a speaker’s argument by making the reader or listener question and think about the topic more thoroughly. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Mark Antony’s funeral speech for Caesar persuaded the audience more effectively than Brutus’ speech because of his use of rhetorical devices such as logos, aposiopesis, anaphora.
Although much of Mark Antony’s speech presents a plethora of pathos, he uses logos very well to justify how Caesar was a good man because when presented with the crown “he did thrice refuse.”(Act III Scene 2) Antony is confused that Brutus would say he was ambitious for power when Caesar refused to be crowned the king of Rome three times. The logic behind someone who refuses the crown to one of the most powerful empires of all time is that they are not thirsty for power or ambitious, as otherwise
Toward the middle of Antony’s speech, he begins to show his emotion by pausing saying his “heart is in the coffin there with Caesar” (act III, scene 2). Antony pauses to show his strong grief for the loss of Caesar and shows the crowd that it is a real tragic loss and not a victory as Brutus explains. Antony uses the way of playing with the crowds emotions to build their feelings toward the killers and show that Brutus did not persuade everyone. Brutus tried to pause his statements with questions toward the crowd and waited for their response to emphasize his point that ¨if any, speak; for him have i offended.¨(Act III, Scene ii, Line). Brutus consults the crowd for their opinion to reassure them that he is for the people. Brutus tried to further his points by ¨[pausing] for a reply” and act as if he is confident that the crowd agrees with him so he is not worried of an answer differing from his own.(Act III. Scene ii, Line). He paused as he asked the question so that someone may interrupt him with an