Compare and Contrast Essay: Brutus And Antony's Eulogies

Literary devices help the speaker to engage and form a connection with a particular audience. It helps to create a sense of relatability and enhance the audience’s view of the speaker. In William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar, rhetorical devices such as literary appeals are used to make a point. In the case of Antony and Brutus these are used to be of interest to the people through their speeches. The conspicuity of Antony’s speech and his way with words seemed to be favored by the audience. 

Brutus uses appeals to patriotism and his individual character. He addresses the audience in a virtuous manor to show he himself was not malevolent, despite his actions against Caesar. “Roman’s countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honor, and respect to mine honor, that you may believe (III, ii, 13-16).” Brutus shows respect for the audience and in turn wants the audience to listen and respect him. “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him (III, ii, 24-26).” He also uses the rule of three and other literary devices to further explain his reasoning to audience. Giving grounds as to why Caesar must be killed, not because he didn’t love Caesar, but because of his ambition.

Brutus sought to maintain the good of Rome, Antony implemented his thoughts and views on the matter in a differently. Antony explained his relationship with Caesar. He connected to the audience to be in Caesar’s favor while subtlety attacking the conspirators, but more so attacking Brutus. “He was my friend, faithful and just to me. But Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man (III, ii, 85-87).”  Throughout his friendship with Caesar, he was good to him, yet Brutus saw him differently. “Did this Caesar seem ambitious? When the poor cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man (III, ii, 90-94).” He shows Caesar as appealing to the feelings of his fellow people, but this Brutus didn’t see. “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he is an honorable man (III, ii, 96-99).” Antony uses repetition to appeal to Caesar’s character and how Brutus is seen to be honorable, and killed Caesar when seemingly he wasn’t ambitious, but in Brutus’ eyes he was, and people see Brutus to be wise and respectable. Antony shines light on Brutus’ judgement of Caesar to change the audience’s perspective of Brutus’ words.

Caesar is talked about as being a friend, a leader, and one of too much ambition. Antony shined the light on Caesar’s character. While Brutus saw that Caesars’ newly presented power could be seen as ambitious. To which, Antony countered, him knowing Caesar and his actions up until this point. This shows that though Brutus is respected his reasonings are invalid. “For Brutus as you know, as Caesar’s angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This is the unkindest cut of all, For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms, Quite vanquished him (III, ii, 177-182).” Antony explains that Caesar was killed by someone he loved and who Rome loves. And that is worse than being hurt by any traitor. Brutus says he loved Caesar, but he loved Rome more and wanted the best for the people. “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men (III, ii, 19-23)?” Brutus explains that for the freedom of the people Caesar’s death was necessary. Explaining this using rhetorical questions to appeal to a sense of freedom. “With this I depart — that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need my death (III, ii, 43- 46).” Brutus displays a sense of selflessness to his country and in trying to maintain his loyalty he had to kill —his best friend— Caesar. He explains that, if need be, he will kill himself if it pleases Rome. The audience’s reaction to Brutus is positive since explaining his intent and offering his life for his country. 

Antony saw Brutus’s reasoning, but he addressed the matter differently. He saw Brutus was doing it for his country, but in Antony’s eyes there was no reason for him to act in such a way. Caesar didn’t do anything to cause harm to Rome. He didn’t become too ambitious, and his attentions were pure in the eyes of Antony. Yet, people follow Brutus and his respectability, but he killed Caesar without Caesar doing anything. Antony’s speech was more compelling because he saw through to the people and empathized with Caesar as a friend. He took his friendship with Caesar into consideration, but Brutus only thought of Rome and not the friend in which he stabbed. He killed his friend without Rome having been affected or harmed by Caesar. Antony saw no ambitious intent behind Caesar’s actions and in turn wanted the people to see that Brutus’ view of Caesar was impaired. 

To conclude, Antony compelled to the people’s hearts. Because of his compassion and love toward Caesar. He did this through rhetorical devices such as repetition, inclusive language, appeals to emotion, and logic. Devices both Brutus and Antony used to have the audience connect to their character. Antony, however, was more successful because he appealed to his character as well as Caesar’s. Indirectly persuading the audience away from Brutus by countering his claims about Caesar.  The components and structure of his speech is what made his speech more enthralling.