The Figure of Speech in Caesar's Famous Line

Figure of Speech in Caesar's Famous Line

In William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar," the character Caesar utters the famous lines "Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!" as he is being assassinated by members of the Roman Senate. This line has become iconic in literature and is a powerful moment in the play.

But what figure of speech or rhetorical device is exemplified by Caesar's words in this scene? Let's explore it further.

What figure of speech or rhetorical device is exemplified by Caesar's famous 'Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!'?

Final answer:

The figure of speech exemplified by Caesar's famous line 'Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!' is called apostrophe.

Explanation:

The figure of speech exemplified by Caesar's famous line 'Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!' is called apostrophe. Apostrophe is a rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses a person or thing that is not present or alive, as if they were present and capable of responding. In this case, Caesar is speaking directly to Brutus, expressing his shock and betrayal before his assassination.