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Conclusion

Although both wives delivered powerful speeches, it can be concluded that Portia did a significantly more effective job in persuading Brutus than Calpurnia did in persuading Caesar. This is supported by the fact that although at one point Brutus and Caesar were willing to obey the word of their spouses, Caesar's decision was immediately swayed after Decius flattered him and convinced him that Calpurnia's dream was misinterpreted.

"When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes."

Calpurnia emphasizes to Caesar that the omens are directed towards him due to his elevated social status since he is soon to become the king of Rome. The gods do not care for the deaths of commoners, but they are known to create chaos when the death of royalty is approaching.

"A lioness hath whelped in the streets, And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol..."

Calpurnia frantically explains to Caesar that a lioness gave birth in the middle of the street, graves were opened and the dead rose from them, and warriors fought in the clouds which then drizzled rain onto the Capitol. All of these occurances are significant in the sense that they are abnormal and unnatural, and that their only justification is that the "gods" are angry.

Calpurnia's Speech

In contrast to Portia, Calpurnia's speech focuses mainly on the literary device logos. Her fear of Caesar dying stems solely from the omens that have been witnessed by the citizens of Rome, as well as what she's seen in her dream.

"I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound Here in the thigh; can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets?"

Portia is so intent on figuring out what's bothering her husband to the point that she stabs herself. She's determined on proving her strength to him, and decides that the most effective way to do so is by enduring a physical pain that is much more severe than what Brutus could possibly tell her.

"I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife, I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter, Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so fathered and so husbanded?"

Portia utilizes repetition to convince Brutus of her strength although she is but a woman and is looked down upon in Rome's society. She also makes it a point to remind him of her father's strength and Brutus' own strength that contributed to her own. Portia goes to extremes to validate her strength, and states,

" And upon my knees I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, By all your vows of love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one That you unfold to me, your self, your half, Why you are heavy..."

Portia continues by utilizing pathos. She reminds Brutus of the vows that once joined them in marriage and how they serve as a valid reason for him to entrust her with his thoughts. Another strong example of pathos is when she exclaims to him,

"Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife."

In stating this, Portia is implying to Brutus that if he does not wish to confide in her and instead sees her only as a means of pleasure, then she considers herself not a wife to him, but more of a mistress.

"What, is Brutus sick, And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, To dare the vile contagion of the night, And tempt the rheumy and unpurgèd air To add unto his sickness?"

Portia begins by utilizing rhetorical questions in order to prove to Brutus that she is persistent and will continue to question him on his worries until he confesses. Although he claims that he isn't feeling well, she immediately states that if he were indeed sick, he would not be going outside in the nighttime and risking the chance of getting sicker.

Portia's Speech

Portia's speech very strongly employs the literary device pathos. However, she also utilizes other devices throughout her plea to Brutus, all of which merge together to persuade Brutus to reveal to his wife what's been troubling him.

Portia vs. Calpurnia:

Who Had a Better Argument?

Yasmeen Yousif

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