Julius Caesar Rhetoric

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Power had a big role during ancient Roman times. The people who were already in power would do anything to increase their amount of power. Some traits that are common with powerful people are persuasive, good speaker, and charming. These are also traits that describe rhetoric. In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the claim that rhetoric has an influence on power is highly credible, based on how the powerful characters manipulate people in their demeaning and belligerent ways.
In the play, one of the main characters is a reason why rhetoric is commonly placed with power. In particular, Cassius is known for his role in the killing of Julius Caesar. Even though this was his main point in the play, Cassius is also known for getting what he wants, persuading people, and for his ignorance. For example, when Cassius is trying to get Brutus to join him on his arrangement to kill Caesar, Cassius starts to use phrases that appeal to Brutus’ emotional side (I.ii.60-82). In the end Cassius ends up convincing Brutus …show more content…
Brutus infrequently uses rhetoric to get what he wants. Therefore, Brutus has a tough time trying to keep the people on his side. When Brutus is giving his eulogy, he sways the people on his side, but when it is Antony’s time to speak he ends up convincing the people the opposite of what Brutus had just told them (III.ii.50-245). During Brutus’ discussion with the people he comparatively uses less rhetoric than Antony and Cassius. In the first and second act of the play, Brutus is known as the people pleaser, but when he had to defend himself he used rhetoric to maintain his excellent status and pull the citizens in his direction. He even gets the people to worship him more than they already did, “Give him a statue with his ancestors./ Let him be Caesar.” (III.ii.52-53). Brutus is not known for enlisting the people for his own goods, he would rather advise them with anything they

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essay Com 124

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