Rhetoric and Persuasion in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar Play

This essay provides an analysis of rhetorical techniques employed by characters in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. It explores how Cassius, Brutus, and Antony use rhetoric to persuade others, highlighting their different motivations and strategies. The essay examines specific examples of rhetorical devices, such as rhetorical questions, juxtaposition, and repetition, and how these techniques influence the audience. The analysis also considers the characters' use of ethos and pathos to sway public opinion and achieve their objectives. The essay draws upon scholarly sources to support its claims, offering a comprehensive understanding of rhetoric's role in the play and its impact on the characters' actions and the unfolding of events. It further examines the characters' use of language and how they convince the Roman population to follow their beliefs.

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Rhetoric in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Different literary pieces often use rhetoric to persuade characters towards a significant
decision. Rhetoric relates and points its words directly to specific referents and is a single system
of communication where the words are the only symbols used (Frye 48). Shakespeare’s Julius
Caesar demonstrates how Shakespeare gave his characters their own personal styles.
Shakespeare reveals his uncanny familiarity with the art of rhetoric and his effortless mastery in
the skillful use of language (Wills 39).
The characters in the play plan and persuade others to take specific actions in order to
satisfy their own needs. For example, Cassius, Brutus, and Antony make good use of rhetoric for
different causes. Each of these men convinces each other as well as the Roman population to
follow his beliefs. However, these different characters have different motivations to do so.
Cassius’s aim is to weaken Brutus’ dedication towards Caesar and awaken his sense of
civic responsibility. He convinces Brutus that Caesar must be overthrown and points out his
shortcomings by comparing Caesar with Brutus constantly (National Taipei University 2).
Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name. (1.2 144-146)

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He continually flatters Brutus and uses the word “honor,” several times for Brutus, and it
reflects the importance he places on honor. The following line shows how he takes advantage of
this:
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus
As well as I do know your outward favor.
Well, honor is the subject of my story. (1.2.90-92)
Brutus is obsessed with his civic duty and tries to convince the Roman people by rhetoric
that his motives to kill Caesar are noble. He has to make a tough decision of killing his best
friend for the love of his country. He calls the people of Rome “lovers” and thus reminds the
people ethos (National Taipei University 3). Brutus uses “rhetorical questions” for is an
argument:
“Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men?” (3.2 24).
It is broadly believed Shakespeare has composed Antony’s speech carefully to employ
the appeal of pathos to evoke emotions. Antony’s speech is moving as he convinces people of
their emotional desires and takes the decision (National Taipei University 5).
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. (3.2 73)
He uses “juxtaposition” and “repetition” to justify his point of view and keep his audience
convinced.
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man. (3.2 83-86)

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Antony uses his power of one’s emotions and uses his knowledge to persuade the
audience through his speech. He seems more of a man of the people as walks down to the crowd,
and shows the people the bloody cloak of Caesar (National Taipei University 6). He conveys his
grief for Caesar.
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason Bear with
me.
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.
(weeps) (3.2 103-106)
Works Cited

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Frye, Roland Mushat. “Rhetoric and Poetry in Julius Caesar.” Quarterly Journal of Speech, vol.
37, no. 1, Feb. 1951, p. 41.
National Taipei University. " A Rhetorical Analysis of Political Discourse in Julius Caesar."
ntpu.edu., vol. 1, no. 1, 2011, pp. 1-7.
Wills, Garry “Rome and Rhetoric: Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.” Publishers Weekly, no. 36,
2011, p. 39.