Linssen 1

Speech Analysis
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Outline

I. Introduction

II. Similarities

A. Brutus’ honor

B. Reference to the crowd

C. Persuasion of the crowd

III. Differences

A. Motives

B. Manipulation of the crowd

IV. Conclusion
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Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4

Similarities ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Differences ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 7
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Ben Linssen

Ms. Kolnik

Speech Analysis

26 January 2011

Speech Analysis

The gracious Caesar is brutally and mercilessly stabbed to death by his own colleagues

and closest friends. To not fright the crowd, Brutus and Anthony speak to them but Anthony’s

motives of speaking to the crowd are different to Brutus’. The similarities between the speeches Comment [L1]: What does Brutus posses

are that they acknowledge Brutus’ honor, greet the crowd with an equalizing phrase, can

persuade the crowd, are pro-Roman, and both ask questions. The differences between both is Comment [L2]: Explain Pro- Roman.

that their thought of the justification for the murder is different, gave different types of rewards,

one manipulated the crowd but the other didn’t.

The similarities between the two are numerous but the difference is equal. The first

similarity is that they both acknowledge Brutus’ honor. Brutus says, “Believe me for mine honor,

and have respect to mine honor that you may believe” (Line 15 -16). Brutus says this in the

beginning of his speech so that he is not seen as a psychopathic murder but as a reasonable

cleanser to Rome. Anthony, according to Brutus, says how Brutus is very honorable as a man (Line

96). In Anthony’s speech he repeats this phrase quite a lot in order to get his point across but then

he uses it in an ironic way. The difference occurs at the same time, the difference between the

two is quite obvious after the later part of Anthony’s speech. Brutus uses the word honor to

glorify and justify his act of killing Caesar (Line 15-16). Anthony says this in a way to sarcastically
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tell the crowd how an honorable man killed such a great leader (Line 103-107). Another similarity

is that both of them address the crowd in a formal way to equalize the status of the speaker and

the public and an inviting way by saying, “Romans, Countrymen…” (Line 14 &and Line82). They

both say this in order to loosen the crowd for the news and the disappointment that followed.

After every speech the crowd is talking amongst themselves in agreement to the men’s speeches,

which leads me to my next similarity, that both men can easily persuade the crowd when they are

talking. In lines 51-59 the crowd praises Brutus and adores his speech and requests actions of

praise—like making a statue—in agreement with Brutus. In lines 128 the crowd pronounces

Anthony as the noblest man in Rome and there is no other. Persuading the crowd is easy because

a moment before Anthony spoke the crowd warned him that he better not say anything bad

about Brutus but then after Anthony’s emotional speech the crowd falls in line to every command

that Anthony declares. The next similarity is that both are pro-Roman or making the crowd feels

non-roman if they don’t follow the things that the speaker says or does. In lines 34-35 Brutus talks

to the crowd saying who feels soas low and rude as beare a slave to a tyrant then beis a Roman,

who is brave and independent. In lines 97-106 Anthony says that the Romans are brave and was

led by a great leader that cared for his people and led as one mind. The both are use this term of

being a Roman so manipulate the crowd to agree towards their arguments. The last similarity is

that both of the men ask questions to the crowd. Brutus asks the questions to the crowd about

slavery and who would be so low or so rude or so base that they would be a slave to a horrible

ruler (lines 30-36). Anthony asks the question to challenge the crowd if Brutus’ action of killing

Caesar if he was such a great king.

The differences of the speeches are quite distinct because the man behind each speech

has a different motive in mind. The first difference is that Brutus thinks he killed Caesar because
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of his over determination and ambitious thoughts. In line 28 Brutus tells the crowd that he loved

Caesar and praised his achievements but because he was so ambitious he had to kill Caesar and

Brutus was so sure that his action was so justified. In line 108 Anthony questions the crowd if

Caesar was truly ambitious when he conquered barbarians to help provide for the people;

ultimately Anthony was trying to disprove Brutus’ reason of killing Caesar and in turn making the

crowd go against Brutus. At the ending of his speech, in line 33, Brutus rewards the public with an

intangible gift. The gift that he offers is freedom but in doing so the crowd can’t really feel better

if they don’t have something physical. On the other hand, Anthony provides the people with 100

dollar worth of drachmas in line 257. When he gives them this reward the people appear that

they feel more accepting to Anthony’s speech and in turn feel less connected to Brutus and the

conspirators. Anthony uses his humility and smooth talking to change the crowd’s mind which

leads to my last difference, Anthony manipulates the crowd while Brutus doesn’t intend to.

Anthony in lines 117 uses his clever talking ability and his wonderful acting to cry and in turn

manipulating the crowds mind into feeling close to Anthony’s heart. Throughout Brutus’ speech in

lines 30- 36, he tries to convey his message in a clean and unbiased way to show his reason to kill

Caesar.

Being killed by friends is never normal but if that friend needs to be killed for the better of

the country is just to do so. The similarities between the speeches are that they acknowledge

Brutus’ honor, greet the crowd with an equalizing phrase, can persuade the crowd, are pro-

Roman, and both ask questions. The differences between both is that their thought of the

justification for the murder is different, gave different types of rewards, one manipulated the

crowd but the other didn’t. Brutus assumes that the crowd is uneasy at the thought that Caesar,

their great king, is dead and that they are very angry at the conspirators and demand a reason of
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justification. So during During his whole speech Brutus is showing his reason and provides back up

information and a little persuasive talking to make the crowd believe in him. Anthony manipulates

the crowd so every easily because he has the working knowledge the crowd is easily manipulative.

He stipulates this theory from how the crowd is so easily flexible from anger toward the

conspirators to thinking they are justified and should be praised.

Reference

ShakeSpeare, William. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. New York, 1996