Atticus Finch : Ethos, Pathos, And Logos

One of the most important elements of any lawsuit is the closing argument. The closing argument allows for the attorney to get their final point across, but it allows them to talk to the jury and let the lawsuit sink in. In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Atticus Finch’s closing argument has multiple elements that allow him to get his point across. Some of these elements used symbolisms and allusions. These aid Atticus in affecting his audience because he relates them to everyday life. For example, one of the uses of allusion is seen on page 271, where Atticus says, “This case is as simple as black and white”. This has an affect on the audience because the case essentially is black and white in a sense, and he is referring to the two people in

Ethos refers to the writer’s credibility on a given topic. In Atticus’ speech he states “I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant… This case is as simple as black and white.” Atticus supporting Tom Robinson automatically gives him credibility because he is a lawyer, with a certain level of intelligence. Being a lawyer allows Atticus to gain support from the jury. Also, Atticus is using the idea of racism to show how everyone is so quick to judge the case since it is between a white human and a black human. Most would side with the white woman as a result to the divide between blacks and whites in the 1960s; whites were superior to blacks during this time period. When Atticus mentions that the case is “black and white”, he is leaving it up to the jury to make an ethical decision to chose who is to blame. In the end, the jury must decide whether to “save” the black side or the white side. Atticus will attempt to persuade people to pick the innocent man based on what they think is right in their heart as opposed to picking the person with the same skin color as them. As a result to Atticus’ occupation, many of those on the jury believe Atticus and the points he makes and so he is able to make some join/support Tom Robinson’s

Ethos refers to the writer’s credibility on a given topic. In Atticus’ speech he states “I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant… This case is as simple as black and white.” Atticus supporting Tom Robinson automatically gives him credibility because he is a lawyer, with a certain level of intelligence. Being a lawyer allows Atticus to gain support from the jury. Also, Atticus is using the idea of racism to show how everyone is so quick to judge the case since it is between a white individual and a black individual. Most would side with the white woman as a result to the divide between blacks and whites in the 1960s. When Atticus mentions that the case is “black and white”, he is leaving it up to the jury to make an ethical decision to chose who is to blame. In the end, the jury must establish whether to “save” the black side or the white side. Atticus will attempt to persuade people to pick the innocent man based on what they think is right in their heart as opposed to picking the person with the same skin color as them. As a result to Atticus’ occupation, many of those on the jury believe Atticus and the points he makes, moving some to join/support Tom

Atticus Finch’s closing argument in To Kill a Mocking Bird uses the rhetorical devices Pathos and Ethos to communicate his message about Tom Robinson.

Throughout his speech, Atticus introduced the concept of pathos where he sought to arouse the emotional side of the jury. His first evidence of pathos came when he expressed his pity for Mayella Ewell, the young woman for whom the trial took place. He addressed her hopeless condition when he called her the “victim of cruel poverty and ignorance” and defended her case in the situation. Mayella had led a cruel life with virtually no love so she had sought love from a defenseless black man, Tom Robinson. Afterwards, he approaches the basis of the US government with the statement that “all men are created equal.” This statement laid the foundations for the American government and spurred on the American rebels to build a new nation. However, Americans soon forgot this statement and Atticus beseeched the jury to remember their beliefs in freedom. To conclude he made a final emotional appeal to the jury and requested the jury to their duty, both to God and themselves.

An example of this comes from the middle of the book during the trial scene. In Atticus's’ argument that Tom Robinson is innocent he provides the jury with information that should ultimately prove him right by saying, "(...)There is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left... and Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses - his right hand" (Lee 204), which is sound logic that should exonerate Tom Robinson. This solid evidence should prove to the court that Tom is innocent, but considering that the people of the jury have a racial bias (they are quick to favor the opinion of the white Mayella Ewell and her father Bob Ewell), that will keep them from making the most logical decision. Even so, the technique of logos helps with Atticus’s credibility and also makes the reader feel sorry for Tom because, despite the clear data, the jury still finds him guilty. Another moment that comes from the same section of text is during Atticus’s closing argument where he explains to the jury why Tom Robinson is innocent. As he addresses his audience he says, “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon

Gentlemen, I shall be brief; but I would like to my remaining time with you to remind you how Atticus Finch’s closing argument had a strong basis in logic, however what made him convincing was his pathetic points. Mr. Finch was well aware the jury wanted to convict Tom Robinson from the start. So Mr. Finch developed a plan to persuade the jury using Aristotle three models of rhetoric: Logos, pathos, and Ethos. Mr. Finch would repeatedly use Logos an appeal to logic to make it clear how all evidence pointed away from Mr. Robinson. Atticus understood how irrational the jury when it came to Negros. So he used pathos appeal, to develop a connection between Mr. Robinson and the jury. For this to work to work the connection needed to be stronger

It took an unimaginable amount of courage for Atticus to take the Tom Robinson case knowing he and his children would be harassed by all the other townspeople. For instance, when “My folks said your daddy was a disgrace an' that nigger oughta hang from the water tank” (105). Also, Atticus knew he had a very low chance of succeeding in winning the case, but he took it anyways. He knows the town will think differently about him solely because he is defending a black man. He also knows that his children will be shown a lot of hatred. Even knowing this, Atticus takes the case and tries his best. Not only did he know he would take hatred, he also knew he would lose. But, he knew this case would define who he was “every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally”(96). While talking to the Judge he knows that he will most likely not win, but that does not change his mind. He knows just because Tom Robinson is black that he will not win. The Jury will see the white man who claims his white daughter was raped and believe him with no doubt. No matter what Atticus says to try to change the jury’s mind, he knows he can only try his best. To summarize, Atticus shows courage knowing not only that the town would hate him, but also that he would lose the

Ethos is convincing the character or credibility of the persuader. Both Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry use it in their works. When Henry in the beginning of his speech says, “No man thinks more

“This case is as simple as black and white” (Atticus). Harper Lee writes about characters in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, that justify their speeches with rhetorical devices. During his trial one of the main characters, Atticus Finch, defends his appointed client, Tom Robinson, who happens to be a black man. Because Atticus tries his best to defend Tom, there is a lot of controversy in their town, Maycomb. The townspeople of Maycomb believe that Tom was guilty of his conviction for raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. Throughout the closing argument for the trial, Atticus Finch uses the rhetorical devices--ethos, logos, pathos--to convince the jury of a black man’s innocence.

These very powerful statements erupt with ethos as Atticus established that he is a trustworthy, fair, and credible lawyer. He also asserts that all men are supposed to not be discriminated upon the court.

“The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is”-Atticus. In this novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, the author, Harper Lee writes that Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson. During the trial, Atticus defends Tom and proves his innocence, however there was a biased jury, which led to Tom’s being charged as guilty. Atticus simply revealed to the court that Tom Robinson was innocent and that he should be released immediately. Throughout Atticus’s closing argument, he uses the three rhetorical devices--ethos. logos. pathos--to prove that Tom Robinson is innocent.

Atticus reveals there was no evidence to prove Tom Robinson’s actions towards Mayella. Atticus tries to appeal to the jury with hard physical evidence, for the jury to look at Tom Robinson as an equal not as an African American man. The use of ethos is evident in Atticus’ argument, by convincing the jury with credibility, “‘I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this defendant to his family. In his name of God, do your duty’” (Lee para.13).

Logos is using logic within a statement or argument to persuade or convince a specific audience to get a point through. In Atticus’ concluding argument he says “The State has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place” which is stating facts and it also proves the state is not taking this trial seriously and won't produce any sort of evidence because he is a young black man. Another example of Atticus using logos is “Now there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led, almost exclusively, with his left hand” and during the whole book Tom's arm was permanently damaged in a cotton gin machine which tore apart the muscles making his left arm useless to him. He uses this argument to show that whoever beat Mayella was dominant with their left hand. This indicates that Tom may not have committed the crimes Mayella is accusing him

Atticus plays the stereotype of the guy who will save the day, strong, honest, and charismatic. He functions with a fluency in his strain to convince the jurors of what their prejudice against people of color tells them about Mr.Robinson. He speaks to them with logic, or logos- "Thomas Jefferson once said that all men were created equal..", a quote that helps support his argument for Tom by mentioning a highly respected figure in history. He then uses emotions or ethos to try and further persuade the stubborn jurors. He becomes overwhelmed with emotions as he pleads in favor of Robinson.