SHAKESPEARE
The whole of Act three scene two mainly revolves around the two speeches, By Decius Brutus and Mark Anthony. The speeches both had their own unique way of addressing the crowd, as well as showing how both men had a completely different style of speaking/addressing the crowd. Both speeches were read at Caesars’ funeral, where both men had the intention of persuading and influencing the confused crowd on their side. Decius Brutus addresses the crowd first, the crowd allow him a fair hearing but Brutus struggles to get the attention of the crowd even though his hands are dripping of Caesar’s blood. “Be patient to the last.” The speech is very arrogant and to the point. He begins his speech with “Roman, countrymen, and lovers,” This is to make the crowd have reassurance that they are all citizens of Rome. As Brutus speaks to justify his actions as to why he carried out the assassination of Julius Caesar. He first states that he is a honourable man and also states “Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge.” Meaning that Brutus will allow the truth to speak for itself and allow the crowd to make their own conclusion. By saying this crowd start to feel at ease and start to give their undivided attention to the honourable Brutus. Brutus defends his murder of Caesar on the grounds, that he was removing a tyrant who was destroying the freedom of all Romans, he questions the crowd that he the best friend of Caesar if there was anyone who could love him more. Miraculously none object to the statement just said. He continues and says how he honoured Caesar for his courage but had to kill him because he was not good for Rome, he was too ambitious. He justifies his actions by stating “Not that I loved Caesar, but that I loved Rome more.” He then approaches rhetorically if they would have preferred to live under Caesar or be freemen with Caesar dead. Again there is silence. He then smartly stresses the point, repeating the line, “If any speak, for him have I offended.” “I pause for a reply.” He smartly uses repetition to manipulate the crowd to his side. He eagerly waits for the crowd to respond to his rhetorical questions. This act is to show that he cares about the opinions and feelings of the crowd. The crowd in unison respond to his rhetorical question crying out “None, Brutus, none.” In other words they agree with Brutus act on killing Caesar was the right thing to do for the prosperity of Rome.