Essay Sample on The Power of Language in Julius Caesar

Language can bring people together. It can also tear them apart. In the play Julius Cesar, by William Shakespeare, the power of words is displayed through violent acts. These words introduced horrible deaths and wars that occurred during the story, causing utter chaos. After Caesar's brutal assassination, the conspirators allow Antony, Caesar's right-hand man, to speak at his funeral. When he is given the opportunity, Anthony uses his power of words to induce rising hate against the conspirators, eventually leading to their downfall. William Shakespeare uses his character Antony to prove that words are more powerful than weapons. 

Antony shows the power of words in how he convinces those around him. After his good friend Caesar was murdered, Antony finds a way to persuade the conspirators to let him speak at the funeral.  During Caesar's funeral speech Antony addresses the crowd by saying “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears'' (Julius Caesar 3.2.73). This shows how he uses language to seem approachable while also gaining the trust of the conspirators. By showing respect, Antony can seem more trustworthy and influential when he talks to the plebeians. During the middle of his speech, Antony riles up the plebeians by talking about the wounds Caesar received at the Senate. He talks about how the conspirators were a very honorable group and goes on to say “I fear I wrong the honorable men / Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar '' (Julius Caesar 3.2.151-152). This enrages the plebeians because the only honorable men they have been told about have been the conspirators. The plebeians all riot saying that they will burn Brutice’s house down before Antony stops them. 

Antony is able to manipulate the plebians by talking about what they are given. Antony talks about what Caesar left for the plebians. Antony wants to display Caesar as an honest man who loved the people who supported him. When Antony brings out the will to see what Caesar left all of them, he goes on to say “he hath left you all his walks, / His private arbors and new-planted orchards, / On this side Tiber. He hath left them you, / And to your heirs for ever — common pleasures'' (Julius Caesar  3.2.240-244). By hearing how much Caesar left for all of the people, the plebeians were memorable of Caesar, reminding them of how good of a leader he would have been. By Antony discussing what all of the plebeians would get from him helped manipulate them to keep them on his side.