Who Is Marc Antony's Ethos In Julius Caesar

The Emotional Speech The Shakespearean play, Julius Caesar, was written by the famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar was an important figure in the Roman Empire, however, the play, Julius Caesar, is not necessarily about Caesar’s biography. Julius Caesar is mostly focused on Caesar’s death. After Caesars assassination, his two best friends Marcus Brutus and Marc Antony gave eulogies at his funeral. Marcus Brutus’s speech was about why he had to kill Caesar. He made several claims that it was for the good of Rome and the people. Marcus Brutus did not appear apologetic during his eulogy for murdering Caesar. On the contrary, Marc Antony’s speech was very uplifting and positive. He focused on the positive things Caesar did during his time as a Leader. Among the two speeches in the play, the one speech that had the most Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in it, was Marc Antony’s speech. Marc Antony had ethos to speak about Caesar because he was Caesar’s most noble follower and he knew Caesar as a close friend. He has served with him in the military and had a lot of respect for Caesar. He knew Caesar was a man, and like all men had made mistakes, but at the same time wanted people to remember the good things Caesar had done for Rome. “The evil that men do lives after
them, the good is oft interred with their bones.” (Page 596 W. Shakespeare) He continued in his eulogy reminding the people of Rome of other good deeds Caesar did during his lifetime, and reminding the people Caesar was a mere human who loved and empathized with the public. “When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept” (page 598, W. Shakespeare) Marc Antony’s speech had pathos as he appealed to the audience reminding them continually that “Brutus is an honorable man” (Page 597, W. Shakespeare). In his speech, he also corrected Brutus when Brutus said, “But as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love, joy for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his ambition.” (Page 595 W. Shakespeare) Antony did say that Brutus is an honorable when Brutus called Caesar ambitious, but Antony had proof that would convince the people that Caesar was not an ambitious man. As Antony quotes Caesar’s non-ambition, he says, “He hath brought many captives to Rome, whose ransoms did the general coffers fill. Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (Page 597 W. Shakespeare) Antony pointed out again that Cesar could not be as ambitious as Brutus said he was stating, “You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?” (Page 598 W. Shakespeare) Antony had Logos in his speech as he continued to prove Caesar was not as ambitious as Marcus Brutus had claimed.
He could give proof to the people, showing Caesar cared more about the people of Rome than Marcus Brutus or any of the other Senators knew. Antony found a will in Caesar’s closet which he wanted to read to the senators and the citizens of Rome. As Antony read Caesar’s will, the will read that Caesar had left money and a property of land to the Roman citizens. This was the proof he used to show the citizens that Caesar was a generous man who loved Rome and its people. The last point Antony made in his eulogy was how Caesar called all the men noble, even the
conspirators. Marc Antony was very emotional during his eulogy. He loved Caesar as a brother, and could not understand why the Senators would kill him. In conclusion of his speech he lifted Caesars robe up to the crowd showing the blood stains. This is how Antony could turn the crowd against the conspirators.