Manipulation In Julius Caesar Essay

It does not matter how hard anyone tries to eschew being manipulated, it is almost completely impossible to personally and intentionally avoid all sources, contaminated with manipulation such as documents, leaders and friends. Manipulation, is the ability to alter the position or to influence a person. Manipulation occurs everywhere one goes. Throughout the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare the common showing theme of manipulation was revealed throughout countless instances. Those instances made major effects on the plot, several of the characters in the play for instance; Brutus, Caesar, as well as the people of Rome, were manipulated one time in Julius Caesar, they were manipulated by their close friends like; Cassius, Brutus, Antony and
At first he spoke in favor of Brutus and told the people “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him”(3.2.72). Soon he began to twist his words however, and gradually shifted his position away from Brutus. Antony said things such as “I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, but here I am to speak what I do know.” and “You all did love him once, not without cause: what cause withholds you then to mourn for him?”(3.2.100-101). He manipulated the people from agreeing with Brutus’ explanation, This showed the power of Antony’s words to change the opinion of the people from being supportive of Brutus to despising what he and the other conspirators had done. Not only did Antony’s speech change the people’s position, it turned it into the yearning for action. The people went away from the assembly and set fire to several conspirators’ homes. One man who was thought to be a traitor, but actually was innocent, was torn to pieces limb by limb. The people didn’t want to cease until Caesar’s brutal death had been avenged. This example shows what effects can develop from manipulation when numerous people have been influenced toward the same cause. All the people were unified in one purpose all because of the ability for Antony to manipulate by words in