Language in Anthony and Brutus’ Speeches Essay

Comp atomic number 18 and contrast heat contents drill of empty words to affect others in his Harfleur destinationes with the effectiveness of the language in Anthony and Brutus speeches In total heat V, enthalpy routines empty talk very effectively as he persu fruit drinks the Governor at Harfleur to surrender and progresss his man on contendd with his Once more unto the breach speech. This is very similar to Anthony and Brutus of Julius Caesar as they use ornateness to ascertain the mob firstly Brutus wins the push over and they believe the death of Caesar is a in force(p) thing and be creator Anthony turns them around and they end up hating Cassius and Brutus. enthalpy uses rhetoric to create a number of different effects one of them being to persuade the Governor to surrender. Rhoda Koenig suggests that this scene points up the character of this immature and disaffected world-beater, which I disagree with as I believe that this speech shows just how the King has ma tured as he is able to bluff his expression through as his array is, really, worn and battered.This speech shows how enthalpys words be more puissant than his army, which is similar to Anthony in Julius Caesar who turns the mob into a call down of madness just through the use of his oratorical skills. For example, Henry starts his speech with short, sharp sentences How yet resolves the governor of the/ town? This creates an assertive beginning and one that makes Henry seem powerful and stern. This coupled with the use of a rhetorical question puts the Governor in a situation whither the mercy of Henry is in his hands, as if the outcome of his men depends on his decision. This excessively removes the responsibility from Henrys shoulders which is a recurring typography end-to-end the play. Henry also describes what the outcome could look like if the Governor doesnt surrender The supply of mercy shall be all shut up. The use of a metaphor here, the gates of mercy, refers to H enry as if once he starts the battle theres no going back.This is used to fright the Governor so that he believes Harfleur volition be desecrated once the battle has begun. This, of course, is a faade as Henry knows full-well that his army is worn thin and lacking in strength. This demonstrates Henrys good leadership, as he bluffs his way through with sureness. Also, this quote contains lots of monosyllables which make it very powerful and reinforces the terror which forces the Governor to surrender. Bernard Richards raised an interesting point where he said that Shakespeare wanted to show the full say of war the glamour as well as the squalid and obscene violence. This interested me as throughout this speech there is talk of atrocities of war such as shrieking daughters while elsewhere in the play we see the French think of war as glorious. This is very similar to Brutus in Julius Caesar who has to use rhetoric to convince the push to surrender, as they are initially angry a t the conspirators for killing their leader.For example, he uses rhetorical questions to force the crowd to realise that the murder of Caesar volition benefit them Who here is so dwelling house Who here is so rude Who is so vile for him have I offended. The crowd are obligate to ask themselves if they would want to be slaves, for example, which they of course answer no. The use of a three-part list also emphasizes this and would allow the crowd to remember this more accurately Let him be Caesar This quote shows that Brutuss rhetoric successfully convinces the crowd, although they appear to have missed the point as they want Brutus to be the new Caesar and the touch on leader of capital of Italy which is what the conspirators were fighting against. It is also interesting to none that Shakespeares main characters usually peach in blank verse, but here Brutus speaks in prose. This is because prose is the perfect way to persuade so has a stronger affect on the crowd. It could a lso be argued that because he speaks to the low-life characters, they will down the stairsstand prose better than blank verse. indoors his speech Brutus also uses repetition which reinforces his message Hear me for cause hear.The use of framing repetition here grabs the crowds attention and makes them listen. He also repeats honour throughout his speech Believe me for exploit honour, and have respect for mine honour. This repetition is used to emphasize to the crowd that the conspirators cause was revered and that they have done the right thing while it also serves to remind the crowd how Brutus is an honourable man, which is a similarity with Henry who also takes great care in ensuring the cause for going to war is moral. The repetition would grind it into the crowds heads so that its almost like subliminal messaging. The repetition also shows how Brutus is exempt unsure himself and that he is trying to convince himself that they have done the right thing. Henry also uses rh etoric to empower his army and urge them on at Harfluer in what Hal Hinson of the Washington Post calls the greatest half-time speech in human history.Here, Henry is forced to persuade his army that they should not fall behind but attack once again Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Similarly to Brutus, Henry uses framing repetition to encourage his army to attack Harfleur once more. The repetition helps to reinforce the message and will stick in their minds through the battle. Also in this quote, he uses an endearing pronoun friend. This affects the army as they will feel that they are all friends of the King and will have a surge of confidence. This will help the army to conquer whatever they face, even though they have had to retreat. Interestingly, this contrast to what the Chorus says in the preceding scene as he states that the great British are invading France when really they are being forced to retreat.Henry also uses alliteration But when the blast of wa r blows in our ears. The use of plosive alliteration here creates a powerful sound which suggests that the English army are powerful enough to defeat the French. This also shows Henrys passion as if its bursting out of him as he desperately wants his men to survive as he feels guilty that the war may not have an honourable cause. Also is this speech, sibilance is used Stiffen the sinews. This also creates quite an aggressive sound which would be passed onto the soldiers and make them feel aggressive and willing to fight. Henry also uses figurative language Let it appreciate like the brass cannon. This illustration likens the mind prying to a cannon an item associated with war which would trouble oneself up the soldiers and also remind them that they are at war, its kill or be killed. Another simile used refers to Alexander the Great On, on, you noblest English like so many Alexanders.Here, Henry likens his army to a group of Alexander the Greats. Alexander the Great is a fig ure of classic legend which states that he conquered the Persian Empire. It also says that he was often reckless with his own life and his soldiers as he believed he was indestructible. This would encourage his men and fill them with confidence as Alexander was a great warrior and Henrys army will feel equally invincible. Shakespeares Elizabethan reference were very interested in Greek culture so the simile would have been more relevant and had more effect than it would on our association who have a lesser interest. Also, in this quote he addresses the noblest English while further on he addresses the good yeomen. Henry directly addresses each social class as his army was compiled of a number of different classes, even nationalities. King Henry V was known for uniting people under him as he prevented a civil war between the Church and the Government and this unity is shown in the scene between Gower, Fluellen, Jamy and MacMorris.This scene also, as James Shapiro suggests, prophet ically anticipates the notion of a united ground. Although these nations were far from united in 1599, when the play was written as England and Ireland were at war, and some were very antipathetical during Henrys reign. For example, James Shapiro criticizes that Henry says the Scots may attack yet here they are united. This would make each soldier feel important, needed and a friend of the kings, which would, ultimately, provide the soldiers with confidence to fight, and beat, the French. Likewise, Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar also addresses his crowd individually while manipulating them until they run riot around Rome Friends, Romans, countrymen. Anthony immediately begins with a three-part list which grabs his audiences attentions and the first word used is friends. This instantly makes the crowd warm to him as he is speaking to them as equals.This is similar to Henry who calls his army the noble English and good yeomen, while it contrasts with Brutus who says, Romans, countrym en, and lovers, as if lovers is an afterthought. This may hint at why Henry and Anthony were successful at convincing their audience while Brutus failed, because Henry and Anthony allowed the audience to warm to them while Brutus did not. Another way Anthony wins his crowd over is by using repetition And Brutus is an honourable man. This is repeated at regular intervals throughout his speech and each time it becomes more sarcastic. The sarcastic tone induces the crowd to question whether killing Caesar was an honourable thing.Here, in the same way as Brutus, he uses subliminal messaging however he uses it against Brutus and to much better effect as the crowd end up rampaging across Rome. In conclusion, Henry and Anthony use rhetoric and their oratorical skills very well combining repetition, friendly language, and other techniques to persuade their respective crowds to see their way of thinking. Brutus, however, fails to convince his crowd (or is unable to deliver a speech worthy of Anthonys) which goes to show how good Anthonys speech is. Henry manages to convince the Governor to surrender, and convince his battered army to continue, while Anthony manages to convince an audience who love Brutus, to hunt him down. Brutus, on the other hand, cannot prevent the people of Rome from turning against him as he didnt endear himself to the crowd.