Question

Read the excerpt from Act III, Scene ii of Julius Caesar and answer the question that follows.

FIRST CITIZEN:
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

SECOND CITIZEN:
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.

THIRD CITIZEN:
Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.

FOURTH CITIZEN:
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

FIRST CITIZEN:
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

SECOND CITIZEN:
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

THIRD CITIZEN:
There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

FOURTH CITIZEN:
Now mark him, he begins again to speak.

ANTONY:
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world; now lies he there.
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

FOURTH CITIZEN:
We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.

ALL:
The will, the will! We will hear Caesar's will.

ANTONY:
Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!

In a well-written paragraph of 5–7 sentences:
Identify two rhetorical appeals (ethos, logos, or pathos) used by Antony; the appeal types may be the same or different.
Evaluate the effectiveness of both appeals.
Support your response with evidence of each appeal from the text.

Answer 1

In this excerpt from *Julius Caesar*, Antony employs both ethos and pathos to persuade the citizens of Rome. His appeal to ethos is evident when he acknowledges Brutus and Cassius as "honourable men," which serves to build his credibility and align himself with their perceived integrity, even as he subtly undermines their actions against Caesar. By stating, "I will not do them wrong; I rather choose to wrong the dead," Antony positions himself as a trustworthy figure who respects noble intentions, which enhances his credibility and encourages the audience to trust his forthcoming words. On the other hand, Antony’s use of pathos is profoundly effective when he describes the citizens’ potential emotional response to Caesar’s will, saying it would "inflame you" and make them "mad." This vivid imagery evokes strong feelings of grief and rage towards the injustices faced by Caesar, stirring the audience's emotions and prompting them to react passionately in his defense. As the citizens plead, “We’ll hear the will,” their eagerness highlights how Antony's emotional appeal has stirred their hearts, leading them toward a collective response of anger and rebellion. Thus, both the appeal to ethos and pathos work harmoniously in Antony's speech, making it a powerful moment that sways the crowd’s sentiment.