Write an analysis of character and language in these scenes. Relating it to the themes and ideas in the rest of the play
Write an analysis of character and language in these scenes. Relating it to the themes and ideas in the rest of the play
'Julius Caesar' was written during the year 1597. The play involves a highly respected senator, Brutus, who decides to join the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar, in the effort to keep republicanism intact. Brutus believes that if Julius Caesar is allowed to live, Caesar will become king and turn the government into a monarchy. Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators kill Julius Caesar. Yet they find Antony, a loyalist of Caesar, seeks revenge on them. A key feature of a tragic hero is the fact that a tragic hero must be a high-standing individual in society. The tragic hero must not deserve his punishment for the play to be a tragedy. Also, a tragedy happening to someone in high authority, will affect not only the single person but also society as a whole.
Brutus is a tragic hero because he was noble, well reflected and high in society, yet because he compromised his honour by alliance with dishonourable men his downfall was assured. Brutus believed that the Romans needed him as the leader to assassinate Caesar, partly because of Cassius' urgings and forged works, but also because he feared Caesar's ambition. Brutus' trusting attitude toward Antony is an example of one of his naivety. Brutus allowed Antony to give a funeral speech for Julius Caesar, which resulted in Antony stirring up a mob against the conspirators. From this powerful speech and Brutus' naivety, Antony became his nemesis. Brutus had an excess of love for his country, which blinded him to the truth. Brutus had said in his address to the crowd, "If then that a friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer, Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". Brutus had honoured Caesar but Brutus felt that Caesar was too ambitious. Brutus also felt that Caesar made the Romans as slaves. Brutus was a patriotic man who did not see past his patriotism. Brutus was a noble man. He had many flaws one of those errors was an exorbitant amount of love for Rome. Tragedy is when a person is deprived of something loved. Brutus had been deprived of his nobility. Brutus was a tragic hero because of his trusting, obedient personality and his desire to help his fellow Romans. All of these factors contributed to his downfall.
Persuasive speeches help people persuade crowds. However, a crowd is not always persuaded by speeches. If a speech is poorly developed with no supporting evidence, a crowd may not agree with an orator. They may instead support the ideas of another orator. In the play Julius Caesar, two prominent figures, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony, try to persuade a crowd of Plebeians. Both men use appealing tactics to sway the crowd. Brutus appeals to the crowd's love for Rome (patriotism), while Antony appeals to their emotion and logic. Brutus' speech is defensive and poorly structured. He begins his ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Persuasive speeches help people persuade crowds. However, a crowd is not always persuaded by speeches. If a speech is poorly developed with no supporting evidence, a crowd may not agree with an orator. They may instead support the ideas of another orator. In the play Julius Caesar, two prominent figures, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony, try to persuade a crowd of Plebeians. Both men use appealing tactics to sway the crowd. Brutus appeals to the crowd's love for Rome (patriotism), while Antony appeals to their emotion and logic. Brutus' speech is defensive and poorly structured. He begins his speech by addressing the crowd as "Romans, countrymen", making it known that he is talking to the crowd as Roman citizens. One of the first mistakes Brutus makes is he bases his whole speech on his honour. He tells the crowd to believe and agree with everything he says because he is an honourable man. This is not a strong line of defence or persuasion because it is hard to believe the things someone says especially if they do not offer you supportive evidence. Rather than giving evidence, Brutus gives an arrogant request, "Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe." This is interesting because Brutus does not back up his statement, that he is honourable, with evidence. Already, Brutus is overestimating the trust of the crowd. Brutus attempts to cover up his lack of evidence by flattering the crowd by telling them that he will let them be the judge of his actions. "Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.". Brutus continues to tell the crowd that he wants them to know all the facts so they can "awake their senses" and judge him better. This is rather ironic since Brutus never gives facts in his speech. He gives his opinions about Julius Caesar's ambition, but not facts. Even so, the crowd begins to sway at Brutus' flattery. Brutus moves on and starts justifying his actions. He claims that he is responsible for the death of Caesar because of Caesar's ambition. "As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him.". Brutus is appealing to the crowds wish to be free men without Caesar rather than be slaves under Caesar. However, Brutus does not acknowledge any examples to support his allegation of Caesar's ambition. He instead leaves his statements "open-ended". Brutus seems to expect the crowd to believe his arguments just because he is honourable. This is not a wise choice because the crowd is too emotionally shocked, about Caesar's murder. Brutus fails to incorporate emotion in his speech. Many critics believe that this is the factor that leads to the mutiny against him. Brutus seems to have no other supporting arguments for his case, so he asks the crowd questions like; who is so corrupt to want to be a slave under Caesar's rule rather than be free without him. When Brutus starts judging the crowd, he begins to lose his effect on them. "Who is here so base that would rather be a bondsman? If any speak, for him have I offended? Who is here so vile that would not be Roman? If any speak, for him have I offended? Who here is so rude that would not be Roman? If any speak, for him have I offended? I pause for a reply." The crowd responds to his questions by telling him that no one is base, rude or vile, but then again who would agree with those statements? Brutus ends his speech saying that he would kill for Rome and die for Rome. He didn't prove his honour, so the crowd shouldn't base their belief in that. Brutus gives an unpersuasive speech that lacks proof or emotion. Furthermore, his arguments are groundless, due to the lack of evidence. Without proven honour, emotion, evidence or grounded arguments, the crowd has nothing to be persuaded by. That is why Brutus fails to sway the crowd..
When Antony speaks, he presents images where Caesar has not been ambitious, and the crowd begins to think that Caesar was wrongly murdered. Antony then reads Caesar's will in which Caesar gives every citizen seventy-five drachmas. This throws the crowd into anger against all who killed Caesar. His character is deeply established in the speech when left alone with the body. His personal feelings are shown; he is deeply hurt. His determination is shown through the anger to cast revenge. His speech is in high flow language using similes and metaphors regarding Caesar's wounds. The hyperbolic language used exaggerates the scenario and gives him a more noble appearance and the audience acknowledge this.
The first and most obvious difference in the two speeches is their lengths. Brutus's speech is composed of 403 words; whereas Antony's speech makes an immense impact with 1097 words. Brutus is over-confident and only says what he needs to in order to get his point across. He does not expect anything more than a poor explanation from Antony, therefore shortening his explanation of Caesar's murder. Brutus is also having some regrets about his murderous deed, and he does not want to sound as if he is defending himself or his motives, simply interpreting them. Antony, on the other hand, has much more to say than Brutus anticipates. His speech is split into six lengthy sections. First, Antony counters what Brutus says by proving that Caesar was not ambitious. The next two parts deal with Antony's finding of Caesar's will and Antony giving a little taste of what it contains. Then, Antony sways the crowd's emotion from curiosity to pity when he tearfully reminisces about Caesar's past. That pity is quickly turned to anger and spite for the very same Brutus that the mob cheered just a short time prior. Just as the mob is ready to storm the houses of the conspirators, Antony brings them back to the will and tells them what Caesar has left for them, the people of Rome.
Despite these drastic differences, the two orations are similar in a way essential to their effectiveness. Brutus and Antony demand audience participation by asking questions and making comments they know will spark fire in the hearts of the Roman people. Antony holds the attention of the crowd with questions. He first gets the mob intrigued with the will, "But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar; / I found it in his closet; 'tis his will. / Let but the commoners hear this testament, / which, pardon me, I do not mean to read, / And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds" (Act III, scene ii, lines 130-4). Every time the will is mentioned a little more information is surrendered, just to whet their Roman appetite. Also, Antony knows exactly how the Roman mob thinks; he is always a step ahead of them. Antony toys with the emotion of the crowd and drags them to both ends of the spectrum.
The most interesting difference in these two funeral orations is the tone used by both speakers. Antony speaks as more of a friend to the people than a powerful leader. Antony speaks to the people as if they are his equals; he respects the intelligence of the common people to understand a speech given in verse. Antony's opening contrasts in meaning, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" (Act III, scene ii, line 75). In just this one line, Antony uses Brutus's words to his advantage by changing them to make himself sound friendlier. By the very first word of Antony's speech, one can infer than he is about to give a humbling oration; he uses the ethical appeal to convince the people to believe in his cause rather than Brutus's. Finally, Antony uses sarcasm to rip down any respect the Roman people may have built for Brutus and the conspirators. In his funeral oration, Antony insults Brutus ten times by stating that he is "an honorable man" (Act III, scene ii, line 84) in a tone of biting mockery, therefore questioning Brutus's credibility.
