Persuasion is the action of changing a persons minds or thoughts about a certain subject. In the book Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, Caesar is murdered by his fellow senate members and his two friends, Cassius and Brutus. Cassius is able to persuade Brutus to agree to Caesar’s murder by telling Brutus they need to take away Caesar’s power because he has become a danger to Rome. Toward the beginning of Cassius’s peach, he tries to convince Brutus that Caesar has been given too much power for only one man.
At one point Cassius states “he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus,” (Shakespeare, “Caesar” 741).
By this statement, Cassius explains to Brutus that Caesar rules over Rome like a giant whose single stride is larger than the entire world. Cassius also tries to show Brutus this is too much power for one person. A giant is much like a king, not only respected but also feared and treated as the highest authority. Because the Roman community hates kings, having such a powerful ruler is not only bad for Cassius and Brutus, but also for Caesar. One of Cassius’ reasonings is that because Caesar is such a danger, they must take action.
First Cassius implies that the more powerful Caesar gets the less powerful he and Brutus become. Then he goes on to say, “Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.” (Shakespeare “Caesar” 741) In the previous quote, Cassius is trying to make the point that what happens to them is in their own control as long as they do something and that it is up to them to change things. Cassius is also using the excuse that Caesar’s power needs to be taken away and if he doesn’t do it, who will? Cassius used comparisons to bring up emotions in Brutus that he normally does not have. In one of his speeches, Cassius says how Brutus and Caesar are equal.
The Essay on Justifying Caesar’s Assassination In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
... yours? (Shakespeare, 1.2.142-143). This quotation is basically Cassius asking Brutus why he is no better than Caesar, and why Caesar gets the amazing power that ... of Rome. He wanted Brutus to become as powerful as Caesar almost was. “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar’? Why should that name ...
He says that Brutus’ name is just as nice as Caesar’s name and one sounds no better than the other does. Cassius also brings up the question: Why is Caesar treated better than Brutus if they are so much alike? In his statement, Cassius is using both logos and ethos reasoning to bring about new feelings in regard to Caesar and increase the honorable appeal of protecting the community by stopping him. Before Cassius brought up the subject, Brutus never would have considered doing such a dishonorable thing as killing his best friend. However, not long after Cassius finished his speech, Brutus agreed to be an accomplice in the murder of Caesar. Brutus also promised to help in the planning of Caesar’s death. I believe this is a perfect example of how easily someone can be persuaded.
If such an honest and honorable person can be persuaded to do something that is completely against his or her moral beliefs and character, almost anyone can be convinced. Cassius simply convinces Brutus that Caesar is a danger to society and he is able to convince him that murdering Caesar is an honorable action. In the end, Brutus really did help to take the life of the most powerful man in all of Rome, his best friend, Julius Caesar. WORK CITED Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. New York, Dover: 1991..
