Ethan Kappel

Mr. Cook

English II

April 6, 2017

Caesars funeral speeches

People are more susceptible to persuasion at the height of emotion. A prime example of

this scenario occurs when attending a funeral. At funerals, people are experiencing powerful

emotions and seek an explanation for them. This very situation occurs in Julius Caesar by

William Shakespeare. While Antony and Brutus are speaking at Caesar's funeral, Antonys

arguments are more effective than Brutus because he uses emotion to attract the attention of the

plebians.

To begin with, Brutus speech at Caesar's funeral is less effective than Antonys because

he uses logic instead of emotion for his arguments. In the funeral environment, emotion is more

effective because the audience is wounded, and thus influenced more by emotional arguments.

Brutus states that he killed Caesar not because [he] loved Caesar less, but that [he] loved/Rome

more which shows that Brutus values Rome more than his best friend (Shakespeare III. ii.

23-24). This statement by Brutus is not effective because he disrespects the dead at their own

funeral. The plebians are unlikely to trust a traitor which makes them unlikely to believe what he

will say next. Brutus asks the crowd Had you rather Caesar were living and/die all slaves, than

that Caesar were dead to/live all free men? but his logic does not resonate to his audience

(Shakespeare III. ii. 24-26). They no longer trust Brutus, so how could they trust his claim that
they would become slaves? Brutus arguments distract from Caesar's death, therefore they

become ineffective.

In contrast, Antonys arguments are favored more by the plebians because he plays up to

their feelings and emotional state. While speaking at Caesar's funeral, Antony describes the

dagger wounds and personalizes them. He explains, Look in this place ran Cassius dagger

through./See what a rent the envious Casca made (Shakespeare III. ii. 186-187).This makes the

crowd wonder how they would feel if they themselves were stabbed. Antony tarnishes Brutus

reputation when he describes Brutus betrayal. He talks about the bloodiest wound on Caesar and

tells the plebians it was inflicted by Brutus. When Caesar saw him stab, it Quite vanquished

him because Caesar is surprised to see his best friend stab him (Shakespeare III. ii. 196-198).

Antony tarnished Brutus reputation when he describes Brutuss betrayal. The crowd now hates

Brutus because he not only killed his best friend but he hurt him the most. These arguments

made by Antony reached the plebians emotionally, which makes them more effective.

In conclusion, Antonys arguments are more effective than Brutus because he

communicates to his audience on an emotional level. The plebians are all very angry about

Caesars death and Antony gives them the best explanation for his death and who killed him.

Antony personalizes Caesar's wounds and turns the plebians against Brutus. This ends up ruining

his reputation. Brutus betrayed his best friend, so therefore he is now hated by all the people of

Rome. At the height of emotion in Caesar's funeral, Antony twisted his audience's emotion into

supporting his arguments.

 Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Simon and Schuster, 2011.