HaCKeRz KrOnIcKLeZ 3/HaCKeRz_KrOnIcKLeZ.iso/anarchy/essays/term/caesar.txt

Text File | 1996-04-27 | 5KB | 94 lines

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    In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony,
both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar, each using a different
technique and approach.  Brutus, in a somewhat arrogant, to the
point, eulogy, attempts to sway the people.  He justifies
conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would
have hurt Rome.  However, in Antony's eulogy, he focuses on
Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus'
justification for killing Caesar.  The fickle Romans waver between
leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the
orators.
    Brutus seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar.  He
begins his speech with "Romans, countrymen ...",   appealing to
their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later says, will
benefit as freeman with Caesar's death.  This shows that Brutus
knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their better judgement as
Romans.  He declares that he is an honorable man, and tells them
that he will let them judge the validity of his claims.  That is,
he will allow the truth to speak for itself.  This encourages the
crowd to believe him, as an honorable man.  He says that he wants
them to know the facts; "Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses that you may the better judge."   Sharing information with
the people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance.  He
gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring the
people to find anyone who loved Caesar more.  Brutus declares that
he never wronged Caesar, that he cried for Caesar's love, was happy
for his greatness, honored him for his courage, but had to kill him
because of Caesar's ambition.  He says that the reason for killing
Caesar was his great love for Rome.  He justifies his actions by
saying that he loved Caesar but, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but
that I loved Rome more."   He then asks rhetorically if the people
would want to live their lives as slaves under Caesar's rule or
would they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead.   To anyone
insulted by his speech he wonders if, as Romans who love their
freedom, they could be offended or reject what he, Brutus, says.
He poses the question, "Who is here so base that would be a
bondman?"  He stresses the point, repeating the line, "If any,
speak, for him have I offended."   "I pause for a reply.", allows
them to respond to his rhetorical questions, giving them an even
greater sense that he cares about them and their opinions.  They
can only respond, " None, Brutus, none."    That is, none are
offended, they do not disagree or argue with his words or his
actions.
        Mark Antony's eulogy utilizes a different approach.  He
starts out by addressing the crowd as "Friends" because he wants to
come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to gain power.
 He then says, "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.", thus he
can ease in praises of Caesar without the crowd stopping him.  He
sounds very sincere when he says, "The noble Brutus hath told you
Caesar was ambitious....  For Brutus is an honorable man."  He
repeats that statement three more times becoming increasingly
sarcastic, saying finally, "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and
sure he was an honorable man."  Since the people responded
positively to Brutus' speech, Antony could not insult Brutus'
honesty in a direct manner.  Yet, Antony disproves Caesar's
ambition with three examples.  One is when he gave the ransom of
captives to the public treasury and not his own, another when he
cried with the poor people, and finally when he refused the
kingship that Antony offered him, three times.  Anyone who was
ambitious would never have done any such things.  Antony says, "I
speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke." , but that is exactly
what he does.  Antony is using a dramatic effect on the people,
first by entering on the stage with the body of Caesar, and at the
end stating that his heart is still with the body of Caesar, ending
his speech weeping.  In justifying Caesar and disproving Brutus,
the people see Antony as a potential successor to Caesar.  They are
swayed to him by his dramatics, his underhanded way of making a
point, his repetition, and compelling proof of Caesar's concern.
He is able to get the people to question the rightness of killing
Caesar.  He has planted doubt in the people's minds, in all areas
except that he, Antony, is, "poor soul", an honorable.
    The difference between the eulogies shows us the importance of
style of speech.  Both try to appeal to the people, and both use
repetition, but Brutus takes a defensive approach, leaving the
people to their own conclusions.  However, Antony takes a
prosecuting approach against Brutus, so sneaky that it is almost
subliminal.  Furthermore, Antony's examples give him an advantage
over Brutus because he backs up statements while Brutus leaves his
statements more open-ended.  The people seem to find it easier to
accept Antony, an emotional and sincere speaker, than Brutus who
appears arrogant and forceful.