『줄리어스 시저』에 나타난 설득 기술

Abstract

Main characters in Julius Caesar try to convince someone to achieve their purposes, all using the art of persuasion. Shakespeare reminds us that Rome was the city of rhetoricians and orators and the art of persuasion was cultivated. Caesar tried to create his great image in his manipulated manner. His art had a great effect on the general public, but became the cause of the Caesar assassination. It was because Caesar was too deceptive and despotic. Cassius manipulated each man to bring him to his side by using the rhetorical speech and persuasive writing. Especially, he persuaded Brutus into joining forces against Caesar by arousing Brutus’ desire. Cassius’ art of persuasion was very effective. He made Brutus a leading murderer in Julius Caesar. In Julius Caesar, the most critical moment of the story is the public oration at the Caesar’s funeral. The ways that the two speakers, Brutus and Antony, persuade the plebeians are very different. Brutus appeals to the logical thing and insists on just the reason that Caesar be killed for Rome. On the other hand, Antony appeals to the emotional thing. He focuses on Caesar’s death and funeral and shows how much Caesar loved the Romans. Hearing Antony’s oration, the plebeians realize who the villains are. The arts of persuasion are diversely used in accordance with the situation. But they are effective when speakers accurately understand the situation and use it to their good advantage.