Julius Caesar Essay: Marc Antony’s Power of Persuasion -- Julius Caesa

Marc Antonys Power of public opinion in Julius Caesar In William Shakespeares Julius Caesar, although Marc Antony is allowed to make a speech at Caesars funeral, he must not speak ill of either the conspirators or Caesar. Antony was ferocious with Caesars assassination, and wants to seek revenge on his killers as well as growth power for himself in Romes government. He must persuade the crowd that has self-collected that Caesars murder was unjust, and turn them against Brutus and Cassius. He tries to stir his listeners anger, rousing them into action and til now say nothing bad about his enemies. Marc Antony uses several persuasive devices in his speech, which allows him to successfully convince the citizens of Rome to turn against the conspirators. The first of these devices, specific evidence, allows Antony to match Brutus explanation for the assassination and prove Caesar was a good ruler. He says, He hath brought many captives home to Rome,/Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill (III.ii.97-98). He continues with, When the poor fox cried, Caesar hath wept (III.ii.100). Marc Antony uses these examples to show the crowd that Caesar cared deeply about Rome and its citizens, and to remind them of the contributions he made. Caesar risked his life to take captives, and then gave the ransom money to the public. Marc Antony says that Caesar was compassionate, he felt his citizens sadness and wept with them. The audience remembers what a good ruler Caesar was, and regrets that hes gone. Brutus had told the citizens he killed Caesar because of his ambition, but Antony disproves this. He says, You all did see that on the Lupercal/I thrice presented him a kingly cr avouch,/Which he did thri... ...ence to feel the opposite of what hes saying A. respectable men 1. Tone of voice tells his feelings-sarcastic tone 1. Repetition-forget actual message B. No mutiny 2. Connects to Honorable men (134) 3. Repetition-loses message IV. Emotions- Appeals to citizen s sadness, horror, then anger A. Sadness-shows his own sorrowfulness 1. (115) B. Horror 1. Carries in Caesars body 2. Shows where Caesar was stabbed-(186) C. Anger-makes conspirators seem evil 1. (235) 2. (135) V. Props-Keep pursuit and appeal to grief A. Caesars body 1. Appeal to audiences emotions 2. Show personal grief B. The will 1. Keep audiences interest a. (140) b. (155) 1. Show audience how great Caesar was VII. Conclusion-what happened afterwards speech