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The extract which is taken from William Shakespeare`s Julius Caesar allows us to examine closely the distinct rhetorical strategies, figures appeal that Cassius uses throughout Julius Shakespeare and specifically in the monologue Cassius presented to Brutus in Act 1, scene 2. There is a theme of power, manipulation, and persuasion carried through Cassius’ speech in the act to convince Brutus, a Roman general to conspire against Caesar as Cassius worries about the power he may be gaining and eventually convincing Brutus himself to kill Caesar in the hope it is best for Rome. During this, he uses rhetorical appeals, rhetorical questions, Logos, and pathos to convince Brutus that Caesar is gaining too much power.
Act 1, scene 2, shows a varied number of rhetorical methods which are used by Cassius throughout his speech in the act to gain Brutus’ support of his conspiracy. As Caesar begins to become hugely popular around Rome, he tries to persuade Brutus that if they allow him to keep on ruling then his power will only grow, which is not ideal as it will only lead Rome to be a dictatorship country in Cassius’ eyes. Using a simile, Cassius presents his worry towards Brutus as he says, ‘Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, Like a Colossus’ (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160). Here Caesar is compared to being like a colossus, which is something or someone that is uncommonly huge and holds a lot of power. He then adds a tone of menus by stating, petty men, Walk under his huge legs and peep about, To find ourselves dishonorable graves (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160). Showing us that Cassius believes Caesar will use his power to destroy anyone below him and under his rule they would be better off as dead.
Another of Cassius’ manipulation methods is by guilt-tripping Brutus into thinking if he allows him to lead then it is their fault that Caesar has gained too much power. ‘Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves that we are underling’s (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160). What Cassius means here is that he thinks everyone is in charge of their fate. He thinks of Caesar as a tyrant, and if they just stand back and accept Caesar for being in charge then they are just as bad and no better than slaves.
To build up his argument, Cassius proves to Brutus that he is just as good as Caesar:
Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar’? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name: sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with ’em, (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160).
He claims to Brutus that his name holds the same beauty and charm. They both should be treated with fairness and Caesar should not be the one to overbear the power that should be shared. When comparing them both Cassius rhetorically asks what is so special and different about Caesar that leaves him wondering. He knows Brutus holds a bigger and much more important title over Caesar so he argues that Brutus ought to be awarded if not more than greater treatment than Caesar. Cassius provokes Brutus’ family pride by using pathos as Brutus’ ancestors would never have allowed dictatorship in Rome manipulating Brutus into thinking that Caesar is too powerful for his own good, ‘Age, thou art shamed! Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble blood!’ (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160). This shows us that this is a horrible time to live in Rome. Cassius is saying that in the past it was better, the senators would have stood up to Caesar by now although in this case he is being allowed to do what he wants.
He continues by saying to Brutus that there is still time for him to stop Caesar and for himself to take some power:
‘When went there by an age since the great flood, But it was famed with more than with one man? When could they say till now that talked of Rome, That her wide walls encompassed but one man? Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, When there is in it but one only man’ (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160).
Cassius tells Brutus that the only person people are going to remember from this time is Caesar because of the power that he holds. He says the last time one person was so important was Noah in Noah`s arch. He tries to persuade Brutus by saying at that time Noah is the only person that everyone knew, so do not let that be the case now let them know who Brutus is.
Further in the speech, Cassius builds on Brutus’ family and history furthermore, as he states, ‘O, you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once that would have brooked, The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, As easily as a king’ (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, I.ii.134-160). In this instance here, he is referring to a point in time when a man named Tarquinius called himself king. One of Tarquinius’ issues was that he grew so much power that went to his head he named himself king even though and demolishing the fact that Rome is a republic country. Junius Brutus then came along to restore the Republic of Rome, resulting in him stabbing Tarquinius several times and reinstating the public from the monarchy that Tarquinius would have caused. Cassius here is comparing this instance with Caesar and hoping that this will nudge him into action as Brutus’ family was so noble in the past that he should live up to that now.
In conclusion to the analysis of Cassius’ rhetorical techniques and their effects, we can see their effectiveness of them as Brutus finally agrees to conspire with Cassius against Brutus which results in killing him.
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