Julius Caesar: The Undeniable Power of Words Over Weapons

Introduction

“Words hold more power than weapons.” I believe that this quote has a realism to it. When people want to get their way with others, they can do it with words; when people want others to agree with their point of view and give them what they want or do what they ask, words can be an effective tool. Words allow the manipulator to control their thinking and their behavior, setting themselves up to be used for someone else’s interests.

For example, Cassius persuades Brutus to turn against his best friend. Decius reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream that leads Caesar to his fate, and Antony convinces the crowd of plebeians to turn against the honorable Brutus. Their powerful words were used as a tool to mislead and deceive the most clever men.

Persuasion in ‘Julius Caesar’: The Mightier Power of Words

The power of words is limitless. It does not matter in what language is spoken; persuasion is the key to manipulating people for good or bad. Whatever words we speak should be chosen wisely. Words are a weapon, and when you use words carefully to persuade people, it can lead to chaos. Julius Caesar shows friends and enemies turn against each other and a war stimulates out of lies for power.

In the scene where Antony speaks, Caesar is already dead, and Antony could publicly speak only if he did not slander Brutus’s name or Caesar’s. He blatantly calls the conspirator honorable: “The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious. Here, under the leave of Brutus and the rest, come I to speak at Caesar’s funeral”. The power of Antony’s speech and the manner in which he referred to his enemies was fabulous. He achieved the plebeians’ ultimate approval and will succeed in avenging Caesar’s death. He did so by using wise and careful words throughout the play.

How ‘Julius Caesar’ Reveals the Potent Force of Language

Also, Mother Teresa is related to this argument because she changed the world dramatically only with words and no weapons involved. Mother Teresa chose to serve the poorest of the poor and to live among them and like them. She saw beauty in every human being. She, along with others of the Missionaries of Charity, strove to make the lives and deaths of those around them more peaceful and full of love.

Language is the most powerful weapon in today’s society. Words are stronger as they make it possible to spread ideas and concepts. Words can also destroy and build the whole country. “We choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, People are influenced daily by the power of words. Words cannot only make us think, but they can change the way we live our lives. Words can allow someone to take over your mind completely, while actions can only force you to do something out of fear.

References:

1. Shakespeare, William. “Act 3 Scene 2.” No Fear Shakespeare: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare and John C.. Crowther, SparkNotes, 2003.
2. Zahed, Hyder. “The Power of Spoken Words.” HuffPost, 13 Feb. 2015.
3. Bartleby. “A Powerful Weapon: Words That Persuade in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Ceasar.” Bartleby, 2016.
4. Shakespeare, William. Speech: “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”
5. Poetry Foundation, 2020.