Julius Caesar Rhetorical Questions

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In the wake of Caesars assassination, Marc Antony speaks on behalf of his friend at his funeral. Antony persuades the hostile crowd to listen to his ideas, to disprove Brutus’ claim, and urge them to seek revenge for Caesar. Antony hides his sarcasm under the guise solemnity and appeals to the romans ethics, ideas, and emotions in order to manipulate them into following him. Antony must first establish his credibility with the audience before trying to disprove anything Brutus has said. Antony begins his speech greeting “friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”(III. ii. ). By using the syntax of the sentence Antony is portraying himself as a friend to the people. This gives the people a sense of comfort around Antony in order to make the people trust him. …show more content…
Antony must disprove Brutus’ saying that Caesar was ambitious. “You all did see that on Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?”(III. ii. ). Antony uses rhetorical questions to make the people question if what Brutus said was really true. The Romans are supposed to interpret this question and rethink their trust in Brutus’ words and feel guilt toward Caesar. “For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth” (III, ii. ). Antony uses alliteration to represent himself as weak. Antony wants the people to believe they have come to their own conclusion about Brutus. Antony is giving the Romans all the power by telling them he only speaks of what they already