Julius Caesar
What are the rhetorical devices that Brutus employs his funeral speech?
Act III
Act III
Brutus has a great faith in rationality and his speech reflects this. He "levels" with the people, with a repeated emphasis on the word "honor" to give credence to his motivations. He plays to their virtue, assuming they will understand that their freedom demanded this murder, since it kept Caesar from getting totalitarian power. He also uses a deal of parallel structure to compare the two possibilities: "as he was valiant, I honor him; as he was ambitious, I slew him." Brutus lastly uses himself as a model of affection for Caesar, believing it will make his cause look more noble if he proves that he loved Caesar best, but had no choice.