The Art of Manipulation For many years of human history, manipulation has been a very useful, narcissistic and successful tool for vicious types of people. Manipulation is one of the many skills that people use to get them to do what they want. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, the tragedy shows how its characters manipulate other individuals to influence them for their own aspirations and intentions. Manipulation is used heavily throughout this tragedy to the characters' advantage, especially when Cassius manipulates Brutus. Cassius desperately tries to persuade Brutus and other senators to join the conspiracy. He urges Brutus to join by flattering and glorifying him. Cassius expresses: This makes it easy for manipulators, like Antony, to influence them to do whatever interests them. Antony uses his beneficent tools in his speech at Caesar's heartbreaking funeral. Antony expresses in his melancholy speech to the people: "When the poor cried, Caesar cried / Ambition should be made of sterner stuff / Yet Brutus says he was ambitious / And Brutus is an honorable man" (III. ii.90-94). Antony applies the tools of pathos to convince the crowds who were simply applauding the name of Brutus, to have the impertinent plebs as the enemy of the untrustworthy conspirators. Antony also cleverly hints at Caesar's secret will to the impatient people, which leads them to desperately want to see the mysterious will. Antony placidly shames Caesar further by adding: "'Dissolve the Senate until another time / When Caesar's wife meets better dreams' / If Caesar hides they will not whisper / 'Behold, is Caesar afraid?'" (II.ii. 98-101). Cesar realizes that his wife is a total fool to even consider this dark plan to stay there. Caesar's greed and self-respect get the better of him, however, he has no idea how horrible the ceremony will be for him; his defects will prevail