A Rhetorical Analysis Of To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

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Rhetorical Precis Writing Atticus Finch, a fictional character within Harper Lee’s 1930s set novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, (1960) argues that Tom Robinson is innocent, and rather the defenseless victim of a society ruled by prejudice. Consequently, through Atticus, Harper Lee supports this argument by applying the use of rhetorical appeals and literary devices. For instance, Lee establishes ethos through the utilization of an allusion to Thomas Jefferson, showing Atticus’s credibility and education: “‘Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal” (Lee 233). By indicating his knowledge of the founding fathers’ wisdom, not only does this cause Atticus to appear as trustworthy, but also instills pride and patriotism into the