Examples Of Ethos In To Kill A Mockingbird

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“We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe,” (Atticus). This aphorism becomes evident in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Tom Robinson is the defendant of a rape case, in which Mayella Ewell is the victim. With lopsided and contradictory testimony and great elucidating from Atticus it seems Tom will be a free individual. However, he is found guilty and in due course is shot to death in a prison where he attempts to run. Nonetheless, Atticus Finch uses ethos, logos, and pathos in his closing argument to persuade the jury of Tom Robinson’s innocence.
One way that Atticus attempts to make certain to the jury that Tom is innocent, is by utilizing the rhetorical device logos. Throughout the course of the trial, Atticus generates a lot of interesting points like what hand the defendant may have possibly led with when they striked Mayella. He says, “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.” This evidence corroborates with what Atticus believes and what he wants the jury to presume, that Tom abided by the laws and is in all probability innocent. At the beginning of the closing …show more content…

In doing so, he evokes emotion from the jury to the extent of proving Tom's innocence. One way he accomplishes this is by speaking about Mayella in a way that brings out the jurors sentiment. He says, “I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt.” This inflicts remorse on Mayella and makes the jurors have mercy on her, but also displeasure in view of the fact that she could be

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