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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 lives as slaves under Caesar's rule or would
they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead. To anyone insulted by his
speech he wonders if, as Romans who love their freedom, they could be offended
or reject what he, Brutus, says. He poses the question, Who is here so base that
would be a bondman? He stresses the point, repeating the line, If any, speak,
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply., allows them to respond to his
rhetorical questions, giving them an even greater sense that he cares about them
and their opinions. They can only respond, None, Brutus, none. That is, none are
offended, they do not disagree or argue with his words or his actions. Mark
Antony's eulogy utilizes a different approach. He starts out by addressing the
crowd as Friends because he wants to come to them as a friend rather than a
ruler trying to gain power. He then says, I come to bury Caesar, not to praise
him., thus he can ease in praises of Caesar without the crowd stopping him.
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