Cicero's approach to rhetoric in book II is similar to that of book I. In the section labeled "The speaker must himself feel the emotions he wishes to excite;" (330) Cicero talks about evoking emotion within his readers. He claims to truly evoke positive or negative emotion within an audience, the orator himself must also align with those emotions; "I give you my word that I have never tried, by any means of a speech, to arouse either indignation or compassion, either ill-willed or hatred, in the minds of a tribunal, without being really stirred myself.." (330) This speaks to me as audience member and an orator, because I think it is often times hard to evoke emotion in an audience unless the orator speaks exceptionally well and expresses his or her idea thoroughly. An author speaking about her new book embodies that emotion, and the credibility of the feelings she is attempting to evoke.
Cicero draws on the importance of the relationship between orator and audience on page 328; “ Now nothing in oratory, Catulus, is more important than to win for the orator, the favor of his hearer” (328). While this speaks to all orators, this stands out most in the context in which it was written. Cicero himself, has won throughout book I,II, and III, the attention of Catulus, his “hearer”.
I find it interesting that Cicero preaches pathos, yet never evokes emotion in his readers. He believes emotion to be the most effective and displays a sense of self-proclaimed ethos. Though the writing are very interesting, I would have to agree with Kelsey from class on Monday, he's very hypocritical throughout this dialogue.
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