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Sarah Sharpton Mrs Weathersbee English 2, 1A November 26, 2012

Julius Caesar Funeral Orations
The goal of the funeral orations made for Julius Caesar by Marcus Brutus and Mark Antony was not necessarily to honor Caesar, but to sway the people. They make their speeches in a very persuasive style using a number of rhetorical devices. They hope to lead the people to two different conclusions, so they use different strategies in their orations, though both men use logical fallacies. Brutus's speech is short and to the point, appealing to the patriotism of the Roman citizens to sway them to the side of the conspirators. His only justication for the murder of Caesar is that Caesar had become ambitious and as no longer a t leader. He uses antanagoge when he says that "as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him; but as he was ambitious, I slew him". In listing all of these things together, he makes killing Caesar seem as simple and logical as honoring or rejoicing with him. Brutus also uses a rhetorical question when asking the people whether they would rather have Caesar living and be slaves or have Caesar dead and be free. He doesn't expect a reply because the only acceptable answer is obvious. This rhetorical question is also a loaded question because for someone to say that they would have Caesar living they are also saying that they would be a slave.

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Antony had to be more subtle and clever with his speech. He intends to turn the people against the conspirators but he cannot make that intent known right away because the Romans are so supportive of Brutus after his speech. Antony calls Brutus and his coconspirators honorable many times and it becomes more and more sarcastic. He uses the word honorable even when talking about dishonorable acts, which is antiphrasis. He makes the crowd love Caesar without immediately causing them to hate Brutus. He then uses aposiopesis, pausing in his grief for Caesar and allowing the crowd to discuss his words and sort out their different feelings for him, Caesar, and Brutus. Through the reading of Caesar's will and looking at his corpse, Antony very quickly has the crowd emotional and mourning Caesar, and their grief turns quickly to hate and rage at his murders. Antony also uses a rhetorical question. When the crowd is prepared to mutiny, he asks "Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?", when he knows full well everything he has said to make them love Caesar. Both Brutus and Antony use logical fallacies in their speeches. Brutus uses Argumentum ad Populum, appealing to the Romans' patriotism and pride to justify the killing of Caesar, rather than actually explaining why he did it. This appeal is heavy with emotion and low on logic. Antony uses Ignorantio Elemchi when he distracts the people from talking about Brutus and brings up the will of Caesar, and also when he distracts from the will and has the crowd com examine the body. Antony and Brutus both had a difcult job when they stood up to give Julius Caesar's funeral oration. Brutus was justifying murder, and Antony was turning a crowd against someone they loved. The two men went about it differently, but it can be argued that

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both achieved their goal. Ultimately though, Antony won the hearts of the mob with his moving speech and emotional appeals.