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Rhetorical Devices Used In Julius Caesar

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Rhetorical Devices Used In Julius Caesar
How far will one man go to get revenge on the people who did him wrong? This question is relevant because Antony is ready to take action on the conspirators to make them pay for what they have done. By using his own emotions, that now has gotten him one step close to getting revenge. Antony was very tactful by studying the psychological aspect of the commoners to sway them on his side. Also, Antony figured out ways to persuade the crowd by using fallacies, rhetorical devices, and appeals. From the beginning of Julius Caesar, Brutus wanted to do everything for the good of the people, but are the people actually good? The commoners have shown that they tend to go back and forth between leaders. After Brutus spoke at Julius's funeral, the …show more content…
Antony said he would not speak poorly about any of the conspirators, but he found away around it by using repetition (III,ii,84-96). He would question the characteristics of Caesar given from the conspirators to the people. Once he started to get the plebeians to think, he decides to show Julius’s stab wounds through his cloak. Antony tells them how he remembers the first time Caesar wore that cloak. Now, as he tells the story behind it, he has the people’s pity. With the people’s pity, they will beg to hear anything else about the great Caesar. Antony states that he has Caesar’s will with all the items Caesar gave to the great people, but he does not feel it is right to share the words written. The commoners beg until they hear it. Antony can now explain how the conspirators made even more of a mistake (III,ii,241-244;249-254).
Antony understood the audience very well and knew they would consider any other viewpoint on any topic. He realized that using his emotions would be the most beneficial way to persuade. He was able to use ethos by stating how Caesar was not too ambitious to have his life taken away from him (III,ii,94-99). Antony used pathos by having a visual, emotional impact on the people. He lifted up his cloak, showing the wounds, and telling where each conspirator had the power and the evil motivation to kill this worthy man

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