Shakespeare's Julius Caesar example essay topic

In society the ability to persuade is a major component of the ability to deceive. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare demonstrates how humans are susceptible to persuasion when idealism is intertwined. Man can deceive an individual by appealing to idealism, man can deceive himself by using idealism to cover guilt, and man can deceive a group of people by appealing to idealism. When convincing another man of a particular viewpoint, the persuader may make up fake statements to back up his idea. This is evident in Julius Caesar when Cassius is using his understanding of persuasion, to convince Brutus to conspire against Caesar with him. To be able to persuade another man, Shakespeare allows Cassius to make up falsities about Caesar.

Cassius, who wants to take over the leadership of the Roman Empire, makes up assertions that Caesar is weak and is bad for the Roman Republic. Cassius also uses figurative language to help deceive Brutus into thinking Caesar is bad. For example he says, "he doth bestride the narrow world like a colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about" (1.2. 143-145). By using the figurative language he swindles Brutus into thinking that Caesar is walking all over the citizens of Rome, and that he has no care for the Republic. By misleading Brutus, Cassius demonstrated his ability to persuade effectively by turning Caesar into something that he was not.

At the end of the scene Cassius tell the audience, in a soliloquy, that he made up what he had previously said to Brutus. "Thy honorable metal may be wrought, From that it is disposed: therefore 'tis meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced?" (1.2. 308-311). After making up lies about Caesar, Cassius's true colors are shown; not only does he lie to Caesar's best friend, but he admits to lying. Cassius takes advantage of Brutus because he knows Brutus wants a strong republic, and therefore if he hears a proposal that would be good for the republic, his idealistic nature would ensure that he would go along with the plot. The power of persuasion is also possible in one's own mind.

For example, Brutus is persuaded by a "ghost" into believing that something will go wrong at the battle of Philippi. Brutus says, "Why com " st thou?" (4.3. 126) and the "ghost" replies, "To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi" (4.3. 127). The "ghost" refers to the battle of Philippi to influence the mind of Brutus into believing something terrible is going to happen to him at Phillip i. By making the inference that something bad is going to happen, the "ghost" succeeds in deceiving the mind of Brutus.

Later on, in act 5, Brutus ends up taking his own life, and turns the "ghost's" foreshadowing into reality. Persuading a group of people may be the toughest type of deceit to accomplish. It takes a lot of skill and influence to grab the attention of a large audience. Antony, the loyal friend of Caesar, shows the ability to persuade a large group when he praises Caesar.

The Romans believe that Caesar was disloyal to them because Cassius and Brutus had already brainwashed them into thinking that Caesar was harming society. By persuading the citizens of Rome that Caesar was in fact good for the Republic, Antony is able to restore Caesar's noble name in Rome. Antony says, "You all did love him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you then to mourn him" (3.2. 109-110). By appealing to the gatherings' ethos and logos, Antony shows how the citizens of Rome were wrong to assume that Caesar was harming society.

At the same time, Antony persuades the group to be on Caesar's side by making all the conspirators of the murder look like fools by continually referring to them as "honorable men" in his speech to the public. Antony's ability to persuade helps save the name of Caesar by getting all of the public to respect him. Persuasion is a main idea cast throughout Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Within the plot, persuasion through intellect, mind, and group behavior all play a key factor in determining the outcome of the play.

Human susceptibility to persuasion is what keeps our world moving forwards, without persuasion no one would get his or her point heard..