In the tragedy Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, characters are shown to use manipulation in order to achieve their goals in Julius Caesar. Manipulation is used by characters to gain power and change the opinions of not only the nobles, but the commoners as well. The use of manipulation in the play serves as a reminder of how words and tone of voice have the ability to influence others’ opinions and ultimately influence society. In Julius Caesar, characters such as Mark Antony, Cassius, and Brutus use strategies including lies, speech, and deception to manipulate others and even themselves in the play. In Julius Caesar, during Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s funeral, he uses rhetorical devices to appeal to the people of Rome and turn them …show more content…
Cassius uses manipulation in order to get Brutus to join the conspiracy and turn him against Caesar. First off, Cassius tells a story about Caesar and how he cried “Help me, Cassius or I sink!” (1.2.118). In this story, Caesar and Cassius challenge each other by trying to swim across rough waters. Cassius tries to convince Brutus that Caesar is not worthy of a crown by telling this story because the story shows how Caesar is weak and undeserving to be the ruler of Rome. Similarly, Cassius tells another story about Caesar and how “He had a fever when he was in spain and cried as a sick girl” (1.2.126-134). Cassius is again trying to convince Brutus that Caesar is weak but uses tone of voice to manipulate him. By comparing Caesar to a sick girl, Cassius is able to emphasize how weak he thinks Caesar really is. In addition, Cassius plans to urge Brutus to lead Rome and join the conspiracy against Caesar by throwing letters at Brutus’ window (1.2.328-331). Inside the letters are what seem to be the Roman citizens’ opinions about Caesar. Similar to Antony, Cassius uses words to get his way. However, instead of manipulating the Romans, Cassius focuses on manipulating Brutus in order to get him to lead Rome and the conspiracy against Julius
By telling this story, Cassius makes a contrast between the towering, all-powerful figure Caesar claims himself to be and the reality: he is a mortal man with physical handicaps and sickness. By pointing out that he was stronger than Caesar, and yet has to worship him like a god, Cassius points out the unfairness by which Caesar came to power. and exposes the foolishness in Caesar's claims. By using pathos, Cassius also appeals to Brutus' dislike for a monarchy by pointing out that no man, especially Caesar, should have the power to rule all of Rome. Cassius expands on this point by telling another story about a time when Caesar was sick in bed, saying, "I did hear him groan.
Levi Holbert Mrs. Ridenour English 10-4 May 17, 2023 Rhetorical analysis on The Tragedy of Julius Caesar In the play a close friend of Julius Caesar named Marcus Antoninus (Marc Antony), makes a speech at Caesar’s funeral. Antony uses many forms of persuasion to convince the plebeians to rise up against the senate. In his speech many appeals to logic and emotion are used such as the taunting with and reading of the will, the use of his emotions in the form of crying for Caesar, and showing the mangled body of caesar in the pulpit.
Brutus was manipulated through Cassius’ clever planning, bad judgment calls, and his nobility. Throughout the play Brutus’ apprehension of killing Caesar is very much apparent. But it all started with Cassius planting a little doubt in his head. Cassius is a wise guy and knew just what to say to get Brutus talking.
Cassius does this because he knows that by doing this, Brutus will definitely agree to tagging along on their plan since he now knows how much the people of Rome respect him and because he strongly disagrees with Caesar becoming king and Rome becoming a tyranny . He also manipulated Brutus because he knew that Brutus would put the good of Rome above anything else. In act 1 scene 2, Brutus says, “If it’s for the general good of Rome, I’d do anything, even if it meant my death. May the gods grant me good favor only so long as I love honor more than I fear death.” This comes to show that he is willing to go far enough and do anything, like for example, kill his good friend Caesar, if it meant doing what is
168-170). Cassius uses Brutus’s strong morals, mentioning how an honorable person would help him, in an attempt to join the conspirators. This self-delusion is further demonstrated when Brutus is unable to recognize the implications of his decision and fails to see that he is actually destroying Rome's values. By justifying his actions as noble patriotism, Brutus fails to recognize the consequences of his actions and the cost of his ambition.
Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, is an extreme representation of the problems that happen in society. It shows how far a hero can fall, it shows how misinterpretation can ruin a life, but more than all, it demonstrates manipulation and the massive effect it can have on a person. The play's simple representation of both emotional and logical manipulation gives students a way to recognize when they are being manipulated and gives them an easier path to not letting others manipulate them, for these reasons Julius Caesar should still be taught in schools. One way the story demonstrates emotional manipulation is through the character of Brutus.
Isabella Upwood Mr. Gislason ENG2D1-4 April 26, 2023 Manipulation in Julius Caesar Many characters in Julius Caesar use manipulation and deception to try and get their way. Of all characters, Cassius is the biggest manipulator, who emotionally manipulates Brutus into turning against Caesar and becoming a conspirator. Julius Caesar manipulates the citizens of Rome to rise in power by publicly refusing the crown and convincing them that he’s not greedy for power, and would, therefore, be a desirable ruler. Finally, Antony manipulates and convinces the plebians to support Caesar after his death by convincing them that Caesar was a good man undeserving of death, making them riled up and infuriated at the conspirators.
Brutus’ thoughts of Caesar are altered by manipulation. Cassius states that he plans on writing multiple letters in different handwritings that express concern about Caesar being a tyrant, knowing that this would cause Brutus to side with him against Caesar. Due to Brutus’ desire to have the best for the people, he is driven to believe that killing his best friend is necessary for the good of Rome to rid them of the supposed tyrant. Cassius makes Brutus question his morals and loyalty to his best friend. “The two most prominent plotters of Caesar's assassination exhibit very different characters: Cassius is eager to proceed…” (Reeb).
So it is known that Cassius is not in the favor of Caesar, he can't just kill him and it be justified that is why he needs the noble Brutus. Brutus is noble though he is going to need more than just an idea to join the conspiracy. But Cassius is portrayed as a skilled manipulator who is driven by his own ambition. He is envious of Caesar's power and believes that he would make a better leader. "Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus," Cassius uses his persuasive skills to convince Brutus He also plants the idea
Cassius uses this as a manipulation tactic in order to get Brutus on his side of the conspiracy. Moreover, in Cassius’s dialogue, he exclaims to Brutus that “Caesar had a fever and it made him shake. It’s true, this so-called “god” - he shook.” Not only does Cassius take advantage of Brutus’s concern, but he also exploits it by highlighting how Caesar is not everything that his admirers make him out to be. By making a point of Caesar being as weak as an ordinary man, Cassius plants the seed of doubt and cynicism in Brutus for Caesar and his true intentions regarding the power that he
He comprehends the importance of appealing to Brutus's emotions and values. Cassius achieves this through emotional language and rhetorical questions that create a sense of urgency and importance in Brutus' mind, making him more open to accepting Cassius’s ideals. For instance, in Act 1, Scene 2, Cassius compares Caesar to a "Colossus," a giant statue. By portraying Caesar as a tyrant oppressing the people, Cassius appeals to Brutus' devotion to Rome and sense of honor, causing him to perceive Caesar as a menace to the Roman Republic. Consequently, Cassius' skillful manipulation of language is a crucial factor in his success in persuading
In William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Cassius is a foil to Marcus Brutus, for Brutus is consistently described as honorable and kind, contrasting the always clever and self-centered, Cassius. Cassius acts as a character who goes against the virtues and weaknesses of the main character. Brutus announces, “Why man, he doth bestride the narrow World like a Colossus, and we pretty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves” (Shakespeare I. 2. 142-145). By appealing to Brutus' feeling of honor and loyalty to Rome, Cassius hopes to persuade him to join the conspiracy against Caesar.
In his convincing, Cassius states, “What should be in that ‘Caesar’? / Why should that name be sounded more than yours?” (1.2.142-143). Cassius uses the technique of manipulation in these questions, forcing Brutus to contemplate whether or not Caesar should truly be in power. Another instance of Cassius’ manipulatory ways comes from his soliloquy, in which he reveals his devious plans for Brutus.
Julius Caesar by Shakespeare explores many modern day themes to tell the tragedy of Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar. The most present of these themes is described as manipulation, and this is present in the time of the Roman Empire, as well as in a high schoolers’ everyday life. Throughout the play, there are many instances where manipulation is used by one character onto another, but this theme is most evident during the funeral speeches after Caesar's death. Brutus spoke first, as this was one of the terms in allowing Marc Antony to speak as well. During his speech, we find that Brutus wants to convince the audience that there was a real reason for Caesar's death.
In the book Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, persuasion and manipulation are used to convince the readers of how the characters make decisions and how they feel about differing situations. Throughout the play, different characters are trying to convince each other of different ideas. Cassius, Brutus, and Mark Antony use persuasion and manipulation throughout the book to get their way. In the story, conspirators against Caesar are jealous of his success and create a plan to attempt to terminate his power. They convince Caesar's friend Brutus to be on their side and help assassinate Caesar.