A great way to enhance understanding of effective arguments is to through Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ethos is the credibility of the speaker or writer; pathos draws the audience in through emotional connection, and logos uses logic, reasoning, evidence, and facts to support an argument. A key to strong persuasive writing is the ability to dissect and validate, or debunk, the rhetoric of other arguments.
Fearing Rome would lose its democracy under the rule of Caesar, Brutus agrees to kill his friend in the name of Rome. Conspiring with other senators, Brutus and Cassius stab Caesar to death Caesar on the day of his coronation. Julius Caesar famously says, "Et tu, Brute?" indicating his deep feeling of betrayal.
Rhetoric in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
Storyboard Text
“He was my friend, faithful and just to me.”
ETHOS
“This was the unkindest cut of them all.”
PATHOS
“He hath brought many captives home to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.”
LOGOS
Caesar's Will I, Julius Caesar, of sound mind and body do bequeath 75 drachmas, and half my orchards to the people of Rome, whom I love.
Antony is justifying his words with the credibility of knowing Caesar. He is saying that he was always fair and just and that a true friend would know this.
Antony creates an emotional connection with the crowd. He makes them look at the stab wounds inflicted by Brutus, Caesar’s friend. With his words and actions, Antony creates feelings of pity, anguish, and distrust in the Roman citizens.
Throughout his speech, Antony gives examples of Caesar's generosity and humility as evidence that he was wrongly assassinated. This culminates in the reading of Caesar's will, which gives each citizen 75 drachmas and half of his orchards. Antony uses this as evidence to logically prove that Caesar was not a tyrant.