Caroline Craine 1/24/2023 English 9 Manipulation and Persuasion in Julius Caesar To influence Brutus, Portia and Cassius exploit their relationships with him to solidify their argument and control over him. Since Portia and Cassius both try to influence Brutus, they use similar tactics, but sometimes need to apply other techniques of either manipulation or persuasion to get their point across based on factors such as their background. To understand these influences, the matter of how manipulation and persuasion are similar, different, and applied comes into play. Both Portia and Cassius display manipulative and persuasive techniques with Brutus, as well as when they exploit their connections with him to support their arguments. But first, …show more content…
For example, she uses rhetorical questions such as “Dwell I but in the suburbs/ Of your good pleasure?/ If it be no more,/ Portia is Brutus’ harlot, not his wife.” (2.1.307-310) to provoke emotion in Brutus. In the Roman empire, harlots were not honorable, and the thought for Brutus of having one for a wife was not a pleasant one, and would make him want to prove she is not a harlot and share his troubles with her. Portia mostly appeals to the emotions of her husband, since by default in the Roman empire, women did not have as much trust as men at the time. For this reason, she used a weapon in the influential arsenal women had, which was emotional control. Portia also exploits the Ethos part of the Socratic method. For example, when she states “grant I am a woman, but withal/ A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife. I grant I am a woman, but withal/ A woman well-reputed, Cato’s daughter. /Think you I am no stronger than my sex, /Being so fathered and so husbanded?” (2.1.315-320) One would think since Brutus and Portia are a couple they trust each other, but Portia has to remind Brutus she is credible. Since Brutus values honor, trust is vital in convincing him to do something. When the speaker includes the values of the audience, the point becomes immediately important to them. The effect of Portia’s use of Pathos …show more content…
Continually, Portia established herself as “a woman well-reputed” in the terms of other men, her father and her husband. The fact she had to do this proves social status corresponds to how effective persuasion is. By proving her
Witnesses recount of her charming lure, which could be compared to modern day sex appeal. In addition to her loveliness, she also owns a powerful temper and a strong will. While the latter attributes could be the cause of her single marital state, they served her well with her future
Brutus would rather tell Portia about the conspiracy, than to withhold secrets to his wife. This allows the reader to infer that his love for Portia is not of that time in 44 B.C where most Romans with a few exceptions treated their wives as possessions. Brutus did not act upon this, for he was not only an honorable Roman but a loving husband as well. The fact that Brutus allowed Portia to talk to him the way she did is only one supportive reason to claim he truly loved her. Another would be when Brutus says “Render me worthy of this noble wife!”
Brutus chooses to use Pathos in a way that forces the people to think about the love of freedom and their country. He uses the mention of slavery and being controlled to get to the emotions of the listeners.
People are powerful through their courage and confidence. A simple statement that can be interpreted differently when it comes to certain situations. However, for William Shakespeare, he had no problem presenting a great deal of strength for two women characters that are not displayed as long as their everlasting power. In the play Julius Caesar, despite the characters being mentioned intermittently, Calpurnia and Portia are both seen as empowering figures because they’re an impact on other men as well as the strength they withhold in themselves. Calpurnia is well known as the wife of Caesar, a man whom is soon to take the throne with many targets on his back.
In Cassius’s eloquent speech against Caesar, he primarily utilizes persuasion through tools such as pathos, rhetorical questions, and compare and contrast. Cassius uses pathos to begin his monologue when he claims, “I know that virtue be in you, Brutus, / As well as I do know your outward favor” (Shakespeare 1.2.95-96). By expressing that Brutus has “virtue” and “outward favor”, Cassius appeals to Brutus’s emotions, but not to an exaggerated extent. This emotional appeal is a persuasion technique because it is used in moderation and in pertinent locations. The context is appropriate since rather than using it as a tool to feed on Brutus’s emotions, Cassius only uses it to get Brutus’s attention as an appropriate hook.
This causes her to not feel like an equal partner, the way a marriage should. Lastly, Portia uses anaphora in her argument as a method of recognizing her identity as a woman while also pointing out Brutus’ decision to marry her and share their lives
Now the difference between the use of rhetorical questions in these speeches is that Antony's was used effectively, he worded it in such a way that stirred feelings as well as made them think. Brutus, on the other hand, only appealed to logic and talking to the citizens in such a way that almost offended them. Brutus says “Who is here so Vile that will not love his country?”. This is a rhetorical question that is weak because it is offending people in a way of making them feel bad if they don't love Rome with a burning passion. This isn't effective because the only thing this could do is make the romans feel as if they are being attacked.
Brutus commands Portia to not kneel for him and she is quick to explain she wouldn't have to if he would just tell her what was bothering him. She then brings up their marriage testing the strength of it, ¨Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus/ is it expected I should know no secrets/ that appertain to you?¨ (II.i.280-282). This rhetorical question is to make Brutus feel guilty for making Portia believe that Brutus sees no respect in their relationship. That he should not be keeping things from her since she is his other half. Even with the rhetorical question taking a blow to him he refuses to tell me, instead he tries to mend her sadness with words of love and appreciation for being his honorable wife.
Brutus uses Pathos most out of all of the three Rhetorical appeals. He tries to use the crowds and the reader’s emotions to win their heart. As Brutus talks to the crowded they are very angry,so Brutus starts off by trying to cool them down. ”Be patient till the
Furthermore, Feminist Criticism provides a better view of literature because it shows that women can be powerful. When Emilia finds out that her husband has been plotting an evil plan she says,” Tis proper I obey him, but not now”(Othello V.2.195). Emilia refuses to help her husband after she finds the cruel intentions he has despite the expectation of women always being submissive to their husbands. Women also have a voice and feelings, they are capable of defying their husbands commands when they know what he expects is simply wrong. In a literary article,The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading states that,” Society weighs heavily on the shoulders of women; they feel that they must support the men and defer to them, even if the actions of the men are questionable” (Literary Articles).
Portia, Brutus’ wife, persuades him into telling her why he was acting peculiar and mysterious. She persuades him by stating that he is treating her like a “harlot (prostitute), not his wife” (II.i. 302-310) and also stabs herself in the thigh. Portia illustrates her feelings without backing down and does not hesitate, allowing room for Brutus to waver. Ultimately, he confesses everything to her, even about the details of the conspiracy although he made a promise to never tell anyone about it. Consistency with words can persuade those who do not want to be persuaded.
She cared about her husband. Portia wants Brutus’ health to be good and she doesn 't think it is very good. Portia says “ which sometime hath his hour with every man. It will not let you eat, not talk, nor sleep, and , could it work so much upon your shape as it hath much prevailed on your condition, i should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
In Portia and Brutus ' conversation, we see a strong connection between the couple. Portia deeply cares for her husband and his well-being, and accordingly Brutus has a reverence for her that is superior to that of Caesar to his wife. In the scene, Portia confronts Brutus saying she has detected a change in his behavior. "You suddenly arose, and walked about. Musing and sighing arms across."
A woman well reputed” (Shakespeare, II.i 291-295). These few lines contain implicit meaning that refers to Brutus’ domestic life and how women are mistreated. Portia knows what she is conveying to her husband, which is made apparent in the tone of her voice and the wording of her language. Portia uses repetition when speaking to Brutus, a common speaking and writing technique used to display importance. Her repeating of the line “I grant I am a woman; but withal” shows the reader that not only does Brutus and the rest of society see her as inferior, but it is very possible that Portia has her own self doubts about her full potential because she is a woman.
SECRETS Portia, Brutus’s wife, wanted to know Brutus’s secret for many worthy reasons. Portia cares about her husband and his well being and wants to know what is troubling him, offer her help. A wife or husband should not pressure their spouse into telling them their secrets because they should have already told them. Every situation is different, but a married couple should be very closed and be comfortable to talk to them about anything. Couples should be best friends and not hide things from each other because then there is no trust in the relationship.