Julius Caesar's Funeral Mark Antony Rhetorical Devices
In his speech during Caesar's funeral, Mark Antony tries to persuade the Plebeians that what the conspirators did to Caesar was not acceptable and something must be done, and this creates a critical and disappointed tone. During the beginning of Antony’s speech, he established his main ideas, and showed that he was different from Brutus. In fact, his first line, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”(3.2.82) tells a lot. Antony uses the word “friends” first, and this differs from Brutus because he said “Romans” first. This shows what Antony thinks is most important, which is friendship. Antony chose friendship before patriotism, but Brutus chose patriotism over friendship. He establishes that he is different from Brutus, and he also
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The word “honorable” is an uplifting term used to describe a person with great honor and ethics, but Antony says he “should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong/ Who, you all know, are honourable men”(3.2.135-136). By the time Antony says this, he had already used the word “honorable” to describe Brutus and the conspirators five times, which indicates repetition. By using rhetorical devices such as repetition, Antony can get his point across, which is that the conspirators might not have actually done a very honorable thing. Antony also has to get something across to the audience, which is that they “are not wood.not stones, but men”(3.2.153-154). Antony is saying the opposite of what most people have previously said about the Plebeians, and calling them human beings instead of senseless things. He is essentially trying to butter up the Pelebeians so they do what he tells them to do, and complimenting them is one way to do that. Antony is trying to appeal to his audience, showing a clear sign of Pathos. Once the Plebeians are praised, Antony continues to repeat the word “honorable” by saying “I fear I am wrong the honourable men/ Whose daggers have stabbed
The word “honorable” is an uplifting term used to describe a person with great honor and ethics, but Antony says he “should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong/ Who, you all know, are honourable men”(3.2.135-136). By the time Antony says this, he had already used the word “honorable” to describe Brutus and the conspirators five times, which indicates repetition. By using rhetorical devices such as repetition, Antony can get his point across, which is that the conspirators might not have actually done a very honorable thing. Antony also has to get something across to the audience, which is that they “are not wood.not stones, but men”(3.2.153-154). Antony is saying the opposite of what most people have previously said about the Plebeians, and calling them human beings instead of senseless things. He is essentially trying to butter up the Pelebeians so they do what he tells them to do, and complimenting them is one way to do that. Antony is trying to appeal to his audience, showing a clear sign of Pathos. Once the Plebeians are praised, Antony continues to repeat the word “honorable” by saying “I fear I am wrong the honourable men/ Whose daggers have stabbed