Question

read the excerpt from act 5, scene 1, of julius caesar. octavius. come, come, the cause. if arguing make us sweat. the proof of it will turn to redder drops. look, i draw a sword against conspirators. when think you that the sword goes up again? never, till caesars three and thirty wounds be well avenged, or till another caesar have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. how does shakespeares use of the word slaughter rather than murder affect the meaning of the passage? it suggests that others have already killed many who had a hand in caesars death. it describes the number of wounds that caesar suffered. it emphasizes the savagery of the assassins actions toward caesar. it suggests that the play was filled with many brutal deaths including those caused from swords.

Explanation:

The word "slaughter" implies a large - scale, brutal killing. It emphasizes the savagery of the actions more than "murder" which is a more general term for unlawful killing. In the context of the passage, it highlights the extreme violence of the assassins' deeds.

Answer:

It emphasizes the savagery of the assassins' actions toward Caesar.