In this section of the play, Cassius is talking with Brutus
and uses many strategies to persuade Brutus into believing that Caesar isn’t
worthy of being the king of Rome. From lines 90-131Cassius exposes Caesar’s
physical weaknesses by referring to a time when he had to save him from
drowning in the Tiber River, “I as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the
flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of
Tiber did I the tired Caesar” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 112 – 115). Similarly,
Cassius also talks about a time in Spain when Caesar shivered cowardly from a
fever. By portraying Caesar as a common man, rather than a godly figure that
everyone considers him as, Cassius persuasively portrays his argument that
Caesar shouldn’t be the emperor of Rome.
Additionally, another effective strategy Cassius uses to
persuade Brutus to having a common perspective on Caesar as himself, is his
usage of Brutus’ arguments to defend his own. In lines 85-90, Brutus talks
about how he can’t betray Caesar because he values honor more than his own
life. However, Cassius uses this theme of honor, to rebuke Brutus’ argument. “ Well,
honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men think of
this life, but for my single self, I had as life not be as live to be in awe of
such a think as I myself” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 91-96). In this passage,
Cassius explains that Julius Caesar is of the same rank and power as himself,
and that it would be dishonorable to be subservient to Caesar.
Finally, the last technique that Cassius uses to persuade
Brutus to support his views towards Caesar, are exemplified in lines 135-174. In
this section of the play, Cassius compares Caesar to Brutus, and tries to show
Brutus that he is just as worthy of being the emperor of Rome as Caesar.
“Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that “Caesar”? Why should that name be
sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name” (Act 1,
Scene 2, Line 142-144). By showing Brutus that he is equally worthy of bring emperor, Cassius
praises Brutus and implants confidence in him to join the conspiracy against
Caesar.
Cassius exposed Caesar’s physical weaknesses, used Brutus’
arguments to support his own, and compared Brutus to Caesar to exemplify Caesar’s
unworthiness of being the emperor of Rome. These three strategies seemed quite
successful because Brutus says, "I will consider; what you have to say. I will with patience hear, and find high things" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 168-170)
