Julius Caesar :: Free Essays

Julius Caesar Everyday life in Rome was quite organised. People could only dress that represented themselves and their status. existence a Roman citizen was very important and even the poor of the poor were proud to be Roman. Rome was governed by the triumvirate. This included Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar. Unfortunately Crassus died in a battle. This caused disruption and Caesar and Pompey fell out because neither wanted to shargon Rome. Eventually Caesar killed Pompey and his two sons. Caesar was the absolute power but because Rome had experienced a inhumane tyrant Tarquin who enslaved the Romans, everyone was scared of this happening again. The role of the common people was important as if they offered light relief for the audience but more importantly provided the lynchpin for avenging Caesars death. Brutus and Mark Antony knew that the crowd could be manipulated and exploited this using various but subtle techniques which influenced the cro wd. When the conspirators killed Caesar Brutus and Mark Antony made speeches about Caesar and the event of the killing. Brutus went first and used Romans, countrymen and lovers He puts Romans first as he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. He manipulates the crowd by asking rhetorical questions that say either you love Caear, or the love you freedom. entirely you can not have both speak no or forever hold your peace. Brutus knew that the Romans were proud of they freedom and their society so this question reassert the killing. He says that Caesar was ambitious and it was only a matter of while before Rome was taken over. As a result, death for his ambition. The speech is effective, the crowd are won over and now support Brutus and love him. Then Mark Antony speaks and after Brutus performance they dont really want to listen but eventually they do. This time Mark Antony starts off the opposite to Brutus Friends Countrymen, Romans lend me your ears .. He tells the crowd that he is here to bury Caesar not to praise him.