Ethos Pathos Logos In Julius Caesar Essay

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Julius Caesar

Brutus and Antony both use emotional appeal, a self image, and logic to extract pity and anger among the audience in their speeches, however Antony spoke 2nd, allowing him to easily counter Brutus arguments with logic, logos.

Brutus, an honorable, loyal citizen of Rome that is highly respected by the town speaks with his honorable self image, logic and emotion to compete for the crowds favor. Brutus, having a high reputation for being trustworthy, uses his image, ethos to his advantage. Believe me on my honor and keep my honor in mind, so you may believe me. (3,2 pg.127). Right away, the crowd is moved by Brutus speech and is immediately on Brutus side. Brutus makes sure he respects everyone by asking if he offended anyone. Brutus also uses logos in his speech. He lets the crowd know that if Caesar was still alive and resumed on becoming king, they would all be slaves, Would you rather that Caesar living and we would all go to our graves as slaves, or that Caesar were dead and we all lived as free men? (3,2 pg.129). Brutus assumes that they would be slaves if Caesar became king and he logically explains what went through his head. He says that he had to make the logically decision of killing Caesar and becoming free men, or staying quiet and die as slaves. The crowd praised Brutus because he wanted better for the people of Rome not for his selfish needs. After he expresses pathos by trying to get the pity of the crowd. He wanted to let the crowd know that he loved Caesar, but he simply loved Rome much more, Just as I killed my best friend for the good of Rome, so will I kill myself when my country requires my death. (3,2 pg.129). After he says this, Brutus had full control of the crowd because the crowd wanted him to live when he said he would die for Rome. Brutus makes it clear that it wasnt his desire to kill Caesar, but for the good of Rome he would do anything. Even though Brutus used all three of the ethos, pathos, and logos, he used ethos the most and logos the least. He used ethos the most because his reputation was already outstanding and he was a frank man. He used logos the least because he only gives an example of logos once while pathos he keeps stating that Caesar was a good friend and that he didnt want to do it.

Antony, the play boy and party animal also uses all three persuading techniques. Antony already doesnt have a great image. Known as the party animal, someone who loves alcohol and women, people didnt really trust him. Instead of using ethos how Brutus uses it, antony brings up Caesar image, You all saw that on the Lupercal feast day I offered a kings crown three times, and he refused it three times. (3,2 pg.135). Antony calls Brutus a big fat liar because Brutus mentioned ambition. Antony states that Caesar wasnt ambitious and that Brutus killed Caesar for no apparent reason. After he closes with a weeping, Bear with me. My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause until it returns to me. (3,2 pg.135). He shows the crowd pathos, emotion and this makes the crowd wonder if Brutus is lying or not. The weeping shakes the crowd and makes them feel pity for Antony and a little hate for Brutus. Antony resumes on with his speech with naming the cuts on Caesars body. And he points at Brutus stab, For Brutus, as you know, was Caesars angel. The gods know how dearly Caesar loved him. This was the most unkind cut of all. (3,2 pg.141) Antony uses logic, logos to describe that even the gods knew that Caesar loved Brutus, yet Brutus stabs him. Then, the crowd had a immediate switch of sides and clearly Antony had won the favor of the crowd. Antony used pathos the most, using his emotions to fire up the crowds anger, and he used ethos the least because his image was already a party animal. Antony used logos a bit by describing how even the gods knew Caesars favorite/best friend.

Antony uses logos to reason out the fact that Caesar was not ambitious.

But ultimately at the end, Antony won because he had a huge advantage speaking 2nd and he easily used logos to reverse the favor back to himself, as well as using rhetorical statements while Brutus couldnt because he spoke first.