For example, Antony uses ethos in his speech by assuring his audience that he is their equal. In the first place Antony establishes his credibility by stating that he is truly one of their peers: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears:”(Shakespeare). Moreover, Antony is drawing on a sense of nationalism by calling upon his fellow Romans to hear him out. Not only is he putting himself on the same pedestal as his audience, but he is also using the well-known reliability of Brutus for his own gain: “For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men.”(Shakespeare). In spite of Antony’s personal contradictions to Brutus and the other conspirator’s beliefs, he knows that the majority of Romans believe in them so by calling them honorable he is shown in a more favorable light. Equally important, Antony’s consistent and clear usage of logic in addition to his powerful appeal of ethos, invokes a growing sense of doubt in the Roman people’s minds about whether Brutus was truly just in his killing of Caesar. …show more content…
To demonstrate Caesar’s admirable qualities he draws on times when Caesar made his people wealthy: “Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (Shakespeare). Furthermore, Antony is subtly reminding his fellow citizens how not long ago they revered Caesar partly because he selflessly made them more financially fortunate. In a like manner to Caesar’s generosity in wealth, Antony further illustrates his selflessness: “I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?” (Shakespeare). For this reason Caesar is capable of being represented as a fair ruler, devoted fully to his people, and not plagued by self-interests. Clearly the use of facts strongly supported Antony’s argument as does the appeal to