7/30/2019 Two Rhetorics at a Funeral

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Rhetoric -- the art of discourse that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations.

Aristotle defined rhetoric as "the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion."

What does this have to do with Julius Caesar?

Quite a bit.

One need look no further than Act III Scene II; immediately following the assassination of Caesar, Brutus and Antony ascend to the "public chair" and deliver examples of political rhetoric at its finest!

Brutus speaks to the mass of people and they chant his name and laud his actions. They want to give him a statue...or "let him be caesar"...in other words, theyLOVE him. His speech makes the case that he did it for the good of Rome. Yes, he loved Caesar, but his love of Rome and freedom were greater. His brief, passionate speech has the entire hoard of commoners chanting his name, erecting statues of him, and pledging allegiance to the house of Brutus. All in all a great spe

ech for the B man.

Not so fast folks...here comes Antony. (It should be noted that Antony enters with the bloody body of Caesar WHILE Brutus is still speaking. Quite an entrance,eh? and perhaps a hint of what is to come?)

We must remember that the only reason Antony is alive at this moment is that Brutus persuaded the conspirators to spare him. Little does Brutus know, Antony isabout to lay down some rhetorical brilliance.

What I love most here is that for some reason, Brutus not only "encourages" Antony to speak, he apparently feels so good about his own speech that he shuffles off to Buffalo and lets Antony have the floor...unchecked!

As Antony begins, it is clear that the crowd isn't jazzed about hearing anotherspeech. They are still caught up in Brutus' moment. However, Antony quickly gains their trust and it becomes apparent that he is not only better at using the "available means of persuasion" but he does so in a way that whips the crowd intoa much different frenzy. Not one of statues and crowns, but one of blood and revenge! The crowd that only moments before was erecting statues to Brutus is now crying for revenge and the death of the traitors.

How does Antony do it? What is it about HIS speech that brings about this change?

One very effective moment occurs when he is overcome with emotion and cannot pro

ceed. This simple action not only displays his humanity and grief over Caesar'sdeath, but creates a pause in the speech that allows his "honourable men" themeto start to set. The "bait" has been tossed out there and he patiently pauses tolet it settle. It is in this pause that the commoners start to question all that Brutus said and process what Antony is telling them now.

Antony continues and "over reaches" by mentioning Caesars will. He coyly resistsreading the will, pulling the crowd closer and closer to him. When he finally agrees, he asks them to ring the bloody body of Caesar -- physically pulling themcloser to him and their deceased leader. Antony is truly observing and using AL

7/30/2019 Two Rhetorics at a Funeral

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L available means of persuasion and by the end of his speech Rome is a country headed for war.

This is a great moment of theatre, but it transcends the stage and resonates inour lives here and now. Whether it be the silver tongued politico or the ever present media, when people(s) are good at availing themselves of all means of persuasion, (loaded sound bites, polarizing language, imagery, etc) it is amazing how masses will react.

There is a lot more to be said, but I want your thoughts about this scene in Caesar, as well as contemporary examples. Please use the comments section to join the discussion.

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