Rhetorical Appeals
by Megan Coyle,
Brittany Bunce, and
Cicely Bunker
Ethos
Cassius persuades Brutus and convinces him
that fate does not exist and that we choose our
path in life, it is not made for us. He tells Brutus
that Caesar is not worthy of being king, and the
only way that he could show everyone that is by
becoming king himself, (I.ii.90-132).
At the Feast of Lupercal
Caesar's wife will never have any
children no matter the outcome of
the race, (I.ii.6-9).
When Cassius convinces Casca that the storm is
because of "a man most like this dreadful night,
that thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
as doth the lion in the Capitol" to which Casca
realizes it's Caesar. Casca then decides to join
the conspirators (I.iii.57-78).
Logos
Casca tells Brutus and
Cassius that Caesar
"was offered the crown"
and that "he put it by
thrice" (I. ii. 220-223)
This is an example of factual data and statistics.
Casca is speaking to both men who were not at
the event about things that actually happened.
With the use of numbers and vivid facts, he is
able to tell exactly what happened.
Cassius believes that Brutus
would be a better king than
Caesar, yet all of the
commoners love having
Caesar as their king, (I.ii.90-132).
This is an example of a logical
argument. Cassius believes that once
Brutus becomes king all of the
commoners will see how great of a king
he is, and how much better he is than
Caesar, but some people may think
Brutus would be a horrible king.
Caesar says that "Cassius
has a lean and hungry look"
implying that he is hungry for
power, and that "such men
are dangerous"
(I.ii.194-195)
This is an example of theoretical, abstract
language. Caesar doesn't actually mean that
Cassius is hungry as in he needs to eat food,
he means that Cassius is hungry for power
and he is someone who could possibly
threaten his reign.
Pathos
But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried “Help
me, Cassius, or I sink!” I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did
from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder the old Anchises bear,
so from the waves of Tiber did I the tired Caesar. (I.ii.110-115).
This shows that
Brutus was swayed
by Cassius' speech
and feels that Caesar
is weak and unfit to
rule.
A man no mightier than thyself or me
in personal action, yet prodigious
grown, and fearful as these strange
eruptions are. Tis Caesar that you
mean, is it not, Cassius? (I.iii.79-82).
Cassius is trying to tell Casca that
Caesar should not be king because
the only difference is his name. He
is not a noble man and has done no
valliant deeds to deserve the title of
king.
"Why should that name (Caesar) be
sounded more than yours?" (I.ii.151).
Cassius is asking Brutus what
makes Caesar so special that the
crowd chants his name. Cassius is
trying to get into Brutus' ego and puff
him up so he thinks he can take
Caesar's place as the ruler of Rome.