How Does Julius Caesar Have Too Much Ambition

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On March 15, 44 BC, Brutus killed Julius Caesar for the freedom and protection of Rome. According to Brutus, he says, “I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him, but as he was ambitious, I slew him” (ll. 26-27). Another reason as to why he killed him was his ambition. Perhaps Brutus thought that Caesar had too much ambition. Which begs two questions did Caesar have too much ambition? Moreover, what was Caesar so ambitious about? In this essay, I am going to talk about Brutus’ funeral speech and whether it was more effective than Antony’s, what rhetorical appeals both Brutus and Antony used, and if having too much ambition is a bad thing. In my opinion, Brutus had the better funeral speech he was unapologetic on why he killed Caesar and…show more content…
“If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (ll. 19-24). Then he asks the Plebeians “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men?” (ll. 24-25). Essentially asking them if they would rather Caesar were alive and they would die as slaves or that Caesar were dead and they all lived freely. Another reason why Brutus killed Caesar is his ambition. He says, “As Caesar loved me, I weep for him. As he was fortunate, I rejoice at it. As he was valiant, I honor him. But, as he was ambitious, I slew him.” (ll. 25-28). Brutus says that Caesar was ambitious but he does not explain what Caesar was ambitious about. Which again raises the question can someone be too ambitious. Having ambition for something is not a bad thing, however having too much ambition is not good. When you start to have too much ambition you feel overwhelmed and it puts a lot of pressure on your life. “Too much of anything is not good.” A famous quote that explains why having too much of anything is not good for you. Nevertheless, Brutus did not kill Caesar for having too much ambition, he killed Caesar for having…show more content…
Brutus had the more effective speech he is straightforward with the reasoning of why he killed Caesar, he does not try to persuade the audience in any way, and he acknowledges the beliefs shared by both sides of the argument. In his speech, he uses the rhetorical strategy: ethos. He respects the reader by stating the opposing position accurately and established common ground with the audience. An example of Brutus using Ethos is when he said, “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his.” (ll. 19-21). Here he tries to establish trust with the Plebeians by saying that he was a good friend of Caesar, and that his love to him was no less than Caesar’s love for himself. In Antony’s speech, he uses the rhetorical strategy: pathos. He tried to persuade the audience that they should love Caesar again. “You all did love him once, not without cause. What cause withholds you then to mourn for him? O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason. Bear with me.” (ll. 110-113). He also uses personal connections in his speech by saying, “Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me.” (ll.

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