In the play "Julius Caesar", Shakespeare displays his characters as being manipulative and persuasive. This is illustrated in various parts of the play, such as at the beginning when Brutus was manipulated by Cassius, and then again when Antony manipulated the Roman citizens. Shakespeare first introduces the technique of manipulation and persuasion at the beginning of the play through the character of Cassius. Cassius had sinful plans in his mind and needed others to join this conspiracy against Julius Caesar.Cassius knew that Brutus had a low self esteem and by boosting his confidence he knew that he could convince Brutus to side with him. Cassius then brings the good of Rome ...view middle of the document...
She wanted to know what Brutus was doing because she worried. She made Brutus feel guilty by questioning his love for her, this caused him to agree that he would tell her what was he was about to do. Calpurnia also used her love and devotion for her husband to get what she wanted. She feared for Caesar's life because of the disturbing dreams she had the night before. She persuaded him to stay home from the capitol that day because of these dreams. Portia and Calpurnia could have changed the whole play if their ways of persuasion had only worked. If Caesar listened to Calpurnia's superstitions then he would not have been killed in the capitol that day. If Brutus had told Portia what he was about to do then she may have some way talked him out of making this mistake. This helped create suspense. The reason that the persuasion of Calpurnia did not work is because Decius showed up. Decius manipulated Caesar into going to the capitol and convinced Caesar that the dream that Calpurnia had was a good sign and not to take it as a warning. After the death of Caesar Brutus tries to manipulate the crowd into believing his reason to why he killed Caesar. Brutus tells the crowd that he did not do it for personal greed but he committed this murder for the good of them. He says; "Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freeman?" Brutus appealed to logic and reason, as he tried to get the citizens to understand why he killed Caesar. He wanted to make sure that the people knew he did this for them and it was for the better in the long run. This was only affective until it was Antony's turn to speak. he appealed to the emotions of the citizens instead of 'tricking' them into believing what he wanted. Antony implied that what the conspirators had done was wrong. He constantly called them honorable men and finally the crowd pick up on his use of sarcasm. He says to the people; "O masters, if I were disposed to stir Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Bru...
