Julius Ceasar

             In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and
             Mark Antony, both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar,
             each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a
             somewhat arrogant, to the point, eulogy, attempts to sway
             the people. He justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating
             that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in
             Antony's eulogy, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and
             cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar.
             The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding
             emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators. Brutus
             seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He
             begins his speech with "Romans, countrymen ...", appealing
             to their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later
             says, will benefit as freeman with Caesar's death. This shows
             that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their
             better judgement as Romans. He declares that he is an
             honorable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the
             validity of his claims. That is, he will allow the truth to speak
             for itself. This encourages the crowd to believe him, as an
             honorable man. He says that he wants them to know the
             facts; "Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses
             that you may the better judge." Sharing information with the
             people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance. He
             gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring
             the people to find anyone who loved Caesar more. Brutus
             declares that he never wronged Caesar, that he cried for
             Caesar's love, was happy for his greatness, honored him for
             his courage, but had to kill him because of Caesar's
             ambition. He says that the reason for killing Caesar was his
             great love for Rome. He justifies his actions by saying that he
             loved Caesar but, "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I
             loved Rome more." He then asks rhetorically if the people
             would want to live their l...

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