It is much easier to trick someone, when you know what his or her values are. In Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Decius knew exactly what the main character (Caesar) valued, and he exploits this to his advantage. Caesar has to make a decision that determines his fate. To help him make this decision is his wife Calphurnia, who believes he will die if he chooses to go to the Senate, and Decius, who is conspiring to kill him. Both of these characters try to persuade Caesar either into continued life, or into betrayal and death. Caesar ultimately chooses to listen to Decius because he creates a better argument. Decius’s argument is more persuasive then that of Calphurnia’s because he uses pathos and logos to appeal to the ethos of Caesar, while Calphurnia only uses pathos and ethos.
In Calphurnia’s argument there is no effective persuasion. She appeals using ethos because she is Caesar’s wife, and therefore does not want him to die because of her love for him. Then, she only uses pathos to warn him of the impending danger that she is unsure of at best. She manages to frighten Caesar out of going at first. However, she does not use logos to explain how this choice would benefit Caesar in other ways. Instilling fear in the brave Caesar is ineffective and it only lasts until Decius enters the scene.
Decius is able to convince Caesar to not heed the warning of his wife, and instead fall into a trap. He does this in many clever ways. First, he uses logos to twist the meaning of Calphurnia’s dream from a warning of death, into a vision of glory and fortune. Caesar quickly turns away from thoughts of impending death, into dreams of magnificence and honor. Next, Decius appeals to the ethos of Caesar. He knows that Caesar is greedy, and in a quest for everlasting glory. He goes about tricking Caesar in a logical manner. Decius explains what Caesar will be missing if he stays at home in this quote, “the Senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word that you will not come, Their minds may change” (Shakespeare 55-58). Caesar, unable to pass up the chance for a crown, decides to go. Decius also explains to Caesar that it would sound foolish if the other Romans heard that the almighty Caesar would not return to Senate simply because his wife was having bad dreams. Decius uses ethos because he appeals to the character of Caesar. He knows that Caesar is greedy, in search of glory, and striving to become a legend. Decius simply tells Caesar everything he wants to hear, and tricks him easily in this way.
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