Delaney Cornforth 1/27/14 Contrasting Brutus and Antonys Speeches Source: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/juliuscaesar/ Answer the questions listed below.

Provide lines from the speeches that you feel accurately illustrate your points. 1. Which speech was more persuasive? Explain your answer. Mark Antonys speech was far more persuasive than Brutus for many reasons. Not only did Antony use emotional persuasion, which is generally the most effective in a crowd, but he managed to make it look like he was not trying to persuade the people to rise up against the conspirators, while Brutus was less subtle, outright telling the people that he and the others were doing the right thing for Rome. He convinces the crowd that he has done right by morality and by the city, in saying, I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. Brutus speech is almost like a child saying I did it, but I had a good reason! Hes trying to make it seem like a judges move instead of an assassins move. I think that Antonys far better at persuasion. He made it seem like he thought that the assassins were honorable men, but put Caesar above them, and manipulated the crowd into thinking his way, which is the point of a persuasive speech. That the crowd eventually turned against Brutus also tells how much stronger Antonys speech was.

2. What examples of appeals to emotion did Brutus use? What examples did Antony use? Who handled the appeal to emotion better? Brutus appealed to the peoples emotion in that he convinced them that if Caesar had lived, they would have become slaves. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? is an example of this point. He appealed to the peoples sense of freedom. It is not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more, is an appeal to the peoples love for their city, for their empire. That supports his point in saying that Caesar was bad for Rome. Antonys whole speech had an undertone of emotional appeal. I rather choose to wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, than I will wrong such honorable men. This shows the crowd Antonys noble heart, which theyve been talking about all along, and appeals to their sense of love for Caesar that they had only a little while ago. Another example is Antony talking about Caesars will, Caesars death, and what he had left for the people. For Brutus, as

you know, was Caesars angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all. For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart, and, in his mantle muffling up his face, even at the base of Pompeys statue, which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell. This quote appeals to the crowds memories of Caesar, and is meant to inspire pity for the deceased Caesar. Antony managed the appeal to emotion far better than Brutus did, and used pity, sadness, and joy to convince the crowd to join his side.

3. What examples of appeals to reason did Brutus use? What examples did Antony use? Who handled the appeal to reason better? Explain your answer. Brutus used only a few appeals to reason, one of them being a place in the commonwealthas which of you shall not. This is telling the people that Caesars death was the right choice for them and for all of Rome, partly because they would gain from it. His glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses enforced for which he suffered death, shows the crowd that other than a death, the whole thing has been done fairly, and that Caesars death itself was fair. Antony, on the other hand, talks about the reasons that Brutus gave. You all saw that on the Lupercal feast day I offered him a kings crown three times, and he refused it three times. This shows Antony reminding the people of what happened previously and how it disproves the conspirators. He explains their lies while saying that they are honorable men. This is an appeal to reason because hes trying to get them to think it through fully, which they havent until now. I think that Antony handled the appeal to reason better, as he eventually managed to get the crowd to use their heads and rise up against the conspirators, by appealing to their reason, with a what reason did they really have? sort of approach.

4. What examples of appeals to ethics did Brutus use? What examples did Antony use? Who handled the appeal to ethics better? Explain your answer. Brutus only real appeal to ethics was in talking about Rome and the fairness of how Caesars death was carried out. His glory not extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offences enforced for which he suffered death, again, shows the fairness of Caesars death and the way that the murderers made sure they had legitimate reasons for the deed. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speakfor him have I

offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? This point shows Brutus attempting to convince the crowd that Caesars ethics were so off that to be under his rule would have been to give up being Roman, which no Roman would have done. Antony didnt really use much of an appeal to ethics either. He appealed to their sense of morality, asking them (without really asking) if they thought that Caesar deserved to die. I think that Brutus actually used the appeal to ethics better, appealing to their sense of country and brotherhood.

Essay response: How did Antony ultimately win over the crowd? What could Brutus have done differently?

Ultimately, Antony won over the crowd by use of emotional appeal. Several times, he manipulated the crowds feelings of pity and sadness, eventually inspiring rage in their hearts over once-loved Caesar. Antony used phrases twisted slightly to make it seem as if he thought the conspirators were honorable men, laying the flattery thick while, at the same time, he blamed them, saying their reasons were wrong. He convinced the crowd that Brutus, Cassius, and the others were really acting out of anything but what they claim. Brutus couldve taken a leaf out of Antonys book. For his purpose, he was far too straightforward. If he had given gentle pushes, as Antony did, then the crowd wouldve stuck a little harder to him. Brutus also should have stayed to hear Antonys speech. If Brutus had stayed to stop Antony from saying his persuasive words, then the crowd may not have gone after the conspirators, and he may have been able to repair the damage. Brutus didnt use enough emotional appeal, either. He was too cold. He says several times that he loved Caesar, and his It was not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more, line was very emotional, but thats the end of his emotion. Antony made the crowd feel his point, while Brutus simply expressed it.