Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical Devices

1. 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" (1.2.97-99). This shows Cassius using logic to describe to Brutus the idea that they are all equal to Caesar, not inferior.
   • "Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes to get myself into more work" (1.1.28-31).The cobbler uses his logic to explain why he is about wandering the streets.
   • "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings." Cassius is using logic to say that why should they decide its it up to fate, when they could easily change the course of what is going to happen (1.2.140-141).
   • Caesar logically explains to Antony why he does not trust Cassius and why Cassius looks dangerous to him (1.2.199-214).

2. Pathos

   • "I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius" (1.3.89-90). In this quote, Cassius is using emotion to persuade Casca to join the conspiracy by explaining how bad of a ruler Caesar is and how he will kill himself if Caesar is the ruler.
   • In Scene 2, when Cassius is telling Brutus about great Brutus is he is appealing to Brutus' emotions because Brutus does not feel that high of himself and everyone likes to hear good things about themselves (1.2.90-161).
   • Caesar persuades Cassius to jump into the ocean for him by appealing to him emotionally and calling Cassius dare (1.2.104-108).

3. Ethos

   • "A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March" (1.2.21). Brutus tells Caesar what the fortune teller has predicted, which should have caused Caesar to trust this potential omen, given the soothsayer's profession.
   • In Scene 3 when Cassius is basically telling Casca that the reason for the storm is because of Caesar. He is appealing to the fact that Casca trusts him to tell him what is right, because Casca is not very smart himself (1.3.57-78)
   • "Now, in the names of all gods at once, upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed, that he has grown so great? Age, thou art ashamed!" (1.2.145-150). This is tapping into people's ethics by invoking the gods and their influences on the people and their decisions.