Many people today have been faced with uncomfortable situations in which they have had to deal with deceptive and dangerous characters. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare advocates the idea that a person should, as a matter of fact, be wary of those who pose a threat. During Act I scene ii, Caesar expresses his opinions of a potentially threatening man named Cassius; as a result of his exemplary application of persuasive techniques, such as logical appeal and audience involvement, plus his exceptional as well as organized speaking skills, Caesar is able to convince the audience, his close friend Antony, that Cassius is, indeed, a dangerous person.
Due to the substantial amount of facts that defend Caesar’s standpoint, the predominant persuasive technique he utilizes is logical appeal. In lines 201 to 203, he states, “He [Cassius] reads much, he is a great observer, and he looks quite through the deeds of men”. Through this statement, Caesar points out crucial characteristics of Cassius that make him appear like a devious and sly man. It is common knowledge that people who constantly inspect others’ actions and closely observe as well as analyze every detail are incredibly sharp and have the potential to be extremely insidious. Caesar has seen all of these traits with his own eyes, and therefore, they are valid facts. Logical appeal is reputably the most effective persuasive technique because nobody can refute the arguments made. Hence, it is wise of Caesar to put this tactic into use while convincing Antony that Cassius is a dangerous man. Later, in lines 208 to 209, Caesar says, “Such men as he be never at heart’s ease whiles they behold greater than themselves”. This statement is also primarily based on fact; it is obvious that a person who does everything to be the best will become extremely agitated if there is another person who is doing better than he.
The Essay on Tragic Hero Brutus Caesar Cassius Shakespeare
Noble yet troubled. Intent on achieving righteousness yet committing immoral acts. Admirable yet ruined. Honorable intentions lead to downfall. These seemingly contradicting qualities are all present in all tragic heroes. In Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare displays Brutus, a tragic hero, who's blinded loyalty and devotion lead to his destruction. Brutus's heroic belief of honor and ...
Caesar comes to this conclusion by watching Cassius’ actions—there is no doubt that he is a jealous man and has the great potential to become harmful. It is important that Caesar sees this trait in Cassius, for Caesar uses it as a particularly powerful weapon in persuading Antony. In most societies, jealousy is frowned upon—Caesar knows that by pointing out this mere character trait in Cassius, Antony will instantly dislike Cassius to a certain extent. This technique of using logical appeal while subtly pointing out a critical weakness or threat in the enemy is actually quite effective; convincing the audience of an argument is made easier through this tactic. First off, no one can refute the valid facts that have been stated. In addition, the argument is presented in such a way that on the surface, it is subtle, whereas the deeper meaning of the argument is substantially powerful; the audience receives the information subconsciously and they are, in a sense, already being won over. The technique in which Caesar utilizes logical appeal to persuade Antony is both wise and effective.
Caesar incorporates his audience, Antony, into his speech in order to convince him that Cassius is a dangerous person; this makes Antony feel more involved in what is going on, and ultimately, he is persuaded of Caesar’s argument. Caesar pulls Antony into the discussion during lines 203 to 207: “He loves no plays as thou dost Antony; he hears no music; seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort as if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit that could be moved to smile at anything…”. Caesar, again, is using a logical appeal to convince Antony. Not much is showing on Cassius’ appearance, but on the inside, he is constantly thinking, analyzing, and plotting. Cassius rarely smiles, but when he does, it seems almost unnatural. However, this statement, in particular, was aimed at the audience’s inclusion in the debate. Antony loves many plays and clearly enjoys life as it is; Cassius, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. By pointing out that Cassius despises something Antony loves, Caesar slowly ushers Antony onto his side of the argument. By now, Cassius is seen as a truly threatening enemy. Caesar’s addition of audience inclusion to his logical appeal definitely reels in Antony and persuades him of Cassius as a danger.
The Essay on Rhetorical Analysis Of Marck Antonys Speech
Rhetoric is perhaps one of the oldest disciplinary regimes introduced on the human race. Rhetoric is the study of impressive writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion. In William Shakespeare's very famous play "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" Marcus Brutus and Marck Antony, both Roman Senators at the time; give a speech at Julius Caesar's funeral. Both speakers introduce ...
Another crucial element of Caesar’s speech that makes it simple to understand and adds a persuasive touch to it is organization. The format of his speech is unbelievably easy to follow; transitions are present and the topic is made clear. Caesar begins his speech with an introduction in which he includes himself: “Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid so soon as that spare Cassius” (Lines 199-201).
He then shows his perspective about the topic he is arguing; in this case, it is Cassius. Next, Caesar leads into his arguments—essentially, why Cassius is a treacherous man. Following the body of his speech, Caesar sums up all of his reasoning into one sentence: “And therefore are they [people like Cassius] very dangerous” (Line 210).
This single statement is representative of the speech itself and lets the audience, Antony, hear the essence of the arguments. Ideally, this one sentence clarifies the justifications made and is, potentially, the point at which the listener makes his decision on whether or not to agree. Finally, Caesar creates a simple conclusion to wrap up his speech; this conclusion makes sense because it alludes back to the introduction: “I rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear…” (Lines 211-212).
This, once again, shows his adept skills in mentally structuring his speech. Truly, Caesar’s speech is easy to understand, and therefore persuasive, because of his excellent formatting and organization.
The Essay on Caesar, Cassius & Brutus as Tragic heros
This year in English, we have studied many different characters. We have studied the works from Ancient Greece, England, about King Arthur, and of Oedipus, just to name a few. One type of character we have studied throughout this year is the tragic hero. This character starts high, and falls low due to a tragic flaw. Throughout historical liturature, a person can find these tragic heros. In the ...
In conclusion, Caesar’s speech to convince Antony of the threat Cassius poses is highly persuasive—the most effective techniques, like logical appeal and audience involvement, are properly put into use. Also, his superb organization skills aid in the formation of this speech. Due to all of this, Caesar is obviously able to compile an incredible speech that is both persuasive and understandable.
