I am no orator as Brutus is Essays

I am no orator as Brutus is Essays I am no orator as Brutus is Paper I am no orator as Brutus is Paper This scene, the second half of the great double climax of the play, is almost entirely made up of the short speech of Brutus and the long speech of Antony. The speeches are often contrasted and it could be said that Brutuss speech appeals to reason, whereas Antonys appeals to emotion. Not only does Brutuss speech appeal to reason, but to the spirit of liberty and dignity in the crowd. Brutuss style of speech is logical, well balanced and classical. His argument is built up in clear strong lines. Antony on the other hand, moves from mood to mood, from style to style and from argument to argument, in no obvious pattern or format. In order to examine whether Mark Anthony is a good orator we must look at his character in Julius Caesar. A friend of Caesar, Antony claims allegiance to Brutus and the conspirators after Caesars death in order to save his own life. Later, however, when speaking a funeral oration over Caesars body, through buying his way into he hearts and minds of the plebs he persuades the audience to withdraw its support of Brutus and instead condemn him as a traitor. With tears on his cheeks and Caesars will in his hand, Antony engages in a masterful (in terms of powerful emotive speaking) rhetoric to stir the crowd to revolt against the conspirators. This is where we see Antonys weakness of style: His emotional speaking doesnt match up to that of Brutus commanding dialogue. We have Antonys opening line as Lend me your ears. If we look at Brutuss opening line for his speech, Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have respect for mine honour, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may better judge. Here we see Brutuss brilliance in that he doesnt merely deliver to the crowd a superficial line such as lend me your ears, he does so much more. He talks about senses, and every part of the body, not just one like Antony. He appeals to the Roman sense of reason and flattery and asks the audience to use their own wisdom and judgment. To me, the request lend me your ears implies a temporary question, as if to say listen if you want to. This is another of Antonys weaknesses. He is not commanding. He doesnt command your attention or your respect. He gains it by means of emotions and sympathy and this is why he is not as good an orator as Brutus. All through Antonys speech, Brutuss name is prominent. He mentions him on so many occasions, one begins to wonder who Antony is actually talking about. Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Caesar answerd it. Here under leave of Brutus and the rest come I to speak in Caesars funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; but Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man It is as if he has to mention Brutuss name to keep the crowds attention. In the end, he pulls out Caesars Will, which bequeaths all of Caesars private gardens and walkways to the people of Rome. This is the final straw against the conspirators because it proves to the commoners that Caesar would have been a just ruler, and not at all ambitious, which is exactly why Brutus condoned Caesars assassination. In conclusion, Brutus is an exceptionally eloquent speaker, and I agree with Anthonys self assessment. Antony wins the crowds attention by means of something that is not entirely genuine in that it is a very temporary moment that is quickly forgotten, even though the plebs are exceptionally fickle. Technically, Brutus is the more articulate and logical speaker, however, the power of emotional rhetoric holds its ground and considerably sways the plebs in their decision. Regardless of Antonys gift it is clear that Brutus is the better orator of the two and that is why agree with Antonys self assessment, however, I do understand why, on this occasion straight oratory was not what was required and Antony is the victor.