Rhetorical Appeals
By Jessica Pelka,
Samantha Stanfill,
Jordan Hall
Pathos
"Tis just. And it is very much lamented,
Brutus, That you have no such mirrors as
will turn Your hidden worthiness into your
eye That You might see your shadow, I
have heard Where many of the best
respect in Rome, Except immortal Caesar,
Speaking of Brutus And groaning
underneath this age's yoke, Have wished
that noble Brutus had his eye" (I.ii.56-64).
In this quote Cassius is tapping into
Brutus's emotions and boosting his
self-confidence by telling him that he
needs to recognize how great he is.
He is also telling him that the Roman
people want him to be their ruler.
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus.
Were I a common laughter, or did use To
stale with ordinary oaths my love To every
new protester, if you know That i do fawn
on men and hug them hard And, after, or if
you know That i profess myself in
banqueting To all the rout, then hold me
dangerous" (I.ii.73-80).
Cassius admits that he is going to
use Brutus' honorability to his
advantage.
"I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life, but, for my
single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as
I myself. I was born free as Caesar. So were you. We both have
fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as
he. For once upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing
with her shores, Caesar said to me, "Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood And swim to yonder point?"
Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in And bade him
follow. So indeed he did. The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of
controversy. But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar
cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink!" I, as Aeneas, our great
ancestor." (I.ii.95-114).
Cassius tells Brutus that he is
just as strong and honorable as
Caesar.
Logos
"I was born as free as Caesar; so
were you; we both have fed as
well, and we can both endure the
winter's cold as well as he."
(I.ii.102)
This shows that Cassius is trying to logically persuade
Brutus that he is just as good as Caesar. They are not
inferior to him, but equal.
"O name him not! Let us not break with
him, for he will never follow anything that
older men begin." (I.ii.162)
Brutus is trying to use logic to explain to Cassius why
they should not include Cicero in their conspiracy against
Caesar.
"Men at some time are
masters of their fates."
(I.ii.140)
Cassius is using logos to tell Brutus
that he doesn't think that people's
lives are not determined by fate, but
men can use the logic in their own
heads to determine the fate that lies
ahead.
Ethos
"And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as
by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to
yourself That of yourself which you yet not know of. (I.ii.69-72)
Cassius is trying to appeal to the trust
Brutus has in him, and show him that
he is a good person.
"Fear him not,
Caesar. He's not
dangerous. He is a
noble Roman and well
given." (I.ii.167-169).
Antony is appealing to Caesar's
feelings telling him not to worry
about Cassius and is able to
persuade him because Caesar
trusts him.
"That you might see your shadow. I have
heard Where many of the best respect in
Rome, Except immortal Caesar, speaking of
Brutus And groaning underneath his age's
yoke Have you wished that noble Brutus
had his eyes." (I.ii.60-64).
Cassius is telling Brutus that
people in Rome truly do like him
and since Brutus and Cassius
are good friends, he is trying to
get Brutus to believe him
through his trust.