Rhetorical Analysis of Cassius’ Speech to Julius Caesar, Act I Scene II
Rhetorical Analysis is often a question of form and function. In other words the prompt for the response
below could be: What is the purpose (function) of the passage (Act Scene II lines 97-138) and how does
the rhetoric (form) support it?
MODEL
In his speech to Brutus, Cassius, emphasizes that Caesar is not worthy of the adoration and accolades
being bestowed upon him as he will not make a great leader. Cassius uses ad hominem to appeal to
Brutus’ emotions when he declares Caesar to be a “coward,” who acts like a “sick girl” who is
incapable of ruling Rome (I. ii. 129 and 135). Basically, Cassius is attacking Caesar’s character in order
to prove to Brutus that although Caesar is admired and adored by the people of Rome, his behavior, as
Cassius sees it, is unmanly and belies both the reverence the people feel for Caesar as well as Caesar’s
ability to govern and protect Rome. Cassius also employs juxtaposition to appeal to Brutus’ logic when
he compares “a man of feeble temper” to the “majestic world” of Rome which Caesar, alone, now
rules (I.ii.136-137). In other words, Cassius describes Caesar as weak in the same sentence he
pronounces Rome to be “majestic” so that Brutus will realize that Caesar does not deserve the vast
amounts of veneration he is receiving from Rome’s commoners nor does he deserve the opportunity to
rule such a prodigious city as Rome. The evidence suggests that Cassius is threatened by Caesar’s
growing popularity and power and he does not feel that Caesar is capable of adequately presiding
over Rome. Through his personal attack on Caesar and the close proximity of antithetical ideas he
adamantly questions the legitimacy of Caesar’s soaring approbation.