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Atticus Finch Ethos Pathos Logos

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Harper Lee once wrote, “You never really understand a person until you consider their things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” The novel To Kill A Mockingbird was placed during the culturally segregated U.S. from the 1950s through the 1970s. Atticus Finch a white lawyer defends Tom a black man who has been wrongly accused of raping his girlfriend, Mayella Ewell. Atticus Finch a fictional character uses ethos, pathos, and logos in his closing arguments in defense of Tom. To begin Atticus uses ethos to show that his argument is far more credible than the Platiff’s due to the lack of evidence on the opposing side. In paragraph 41 of Atticus’s opposing argument, he states “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place.”Atticus Finch reveals to everyone that they have little to no proof against Tom. This is one example of credible evidence Atticus uses in support of Tom. …show more content…

“Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left…he swore a warrant, no doubt signing with his left hand, and Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses, his right hand.” This dialogue shows beyond a doubt that Tom is innocent by using factual evidence. Atticus takes advantage of the absence of factual evidence to support

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421 Words | 2 Pages

Towards the beginning of his argument, Atticus questions the legitimacy of the case, saying, “The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place (prg 6).”The absence of medical evidence is important in persuading the jury. In fact, early

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363 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus Finch’s final speech to the jury in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird inspires readers of all ages. As any book critic will tell you Atticus gives one of the greatest speeches in literary history in order to defend Tom Robinson. In order to accomplish this feat Atticus applies the three appeals logos, ethos, and pathos.

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678 Words | 3 Pages

In the year of 1935 a man was put on trial for a crime he never could have committed, but a lawyer named Atticus fighter to save his life by using his powers in the courtroom. This case was about the rape of Mayella Ewell by an African American man in a small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, one of the town’s best lawyers has an insurmountable task ahead of him when he takes on the case of defending Tom from an extremely biased jury. In his arguments he uses persuasion techniques such as Ethos, Logos and Pathos to convince the jury of Tom’s apparent innocence.

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999 Words | 4 Pages

One reason Atticus should be found guilty is “Atticus put his hand on Tom’s shoulder and whispered. Atticus took his coat off the back of his chair and pulled it over his shoulder. Then he left but not by his usual exit” (Lee 282/283). This evidence shows that Atticus gave up and didn’t give Tom any hope after he walked out. Another reason Atticus should be found guilty is that the judge asked “How many witnesses do you got” “One” Atticus replied (Lee 253).

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411 Words | 2 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s character, Atticus Finch utilizes the techniques of a hypophora, an analogy, and an allusion to help persuade the jury in the Robinson vs Ewell case to find the defendant, Tom Robinson, not guilty. Atticus constructs his argument in a way that is simple and easy to understand. Since the jury cannot answer questions, Atticus’ procedure of answering his own questions gives the jury the answers to questions they may have but cannot explicitly ask. A statement that stands out is “what did she [Mayella Ewell] do? She tempted a Negro” (pg. 272).

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669 Words | 3 Pages

A defendant lawyer's job is always to prove their client's innocence, no matter how hard the job is. However, when it comes down to having a black client in a courtroom full of white supremacy, how could the lawyer convince everyone of the black man's innocence and make them look past their racist ways? Atticus Finch's "Closing Remarks" are his last effort to persuade the jury of the defendant's, Tom Robinson's, innocence and to remind them of their duty to perceive all men as equal. Though Atticus knows he stands against racial inequality, he still takes pride in himself and his disclosure to the jury. With many vital factors to Atticus's disclosure, his most substantial factors include the use of logos when identifying a lack of medical evidence

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604 Words | 3 Pages

However, Tom is black and he cannot be innocent in the eyes of most people. Throught the closing argument Atticus Finch uses the rhetorical devices -- ethos, logos, and pathos -- to convince the jury of Tom’s innocence. Atticus used ethos to demonstrate his credibility and reveal his opinion about this case. Atticus does not concur with introducing this case to the court. “To begin

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661 Words | 3 Pages

Grabbing the audience's attention and making them want to hear more is the most important part of any conversation, especially when it is in court. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch wants to create a stable groundwork for all the claims and evidence he has brought up throughout his case. He does this by using Pathos, Ethos, and Logos to first appeal to the audience's emotions and establish a credibility to himself, he finally uses logic to wrap up all the claims he has made. The closing argument uses Pathos, Ethos, and Logos to establish logic and morals to the case and make him sound credible.

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649 Words | 3 Pages

Of course, she blames Robinson for the act, despite the inconsistent certitude that his left arm was eviscerated in a cotton mill during a calamitous accident suffered during his childhood. This startling attestation is furthermore enunciated when Atticus utilizes delayed sentence in the following declaration: “Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses—his right hand,”(Lee 273). By highlighting Tom’s crippled state in such a melodramatic fashion, Atticus not only establishes the now nearly irrefutable notion of Robinson’s innocence, but also garners sympathy from the jury for his client, both of which are essential factors in his

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1453 Words | 6 Pages

Tom Robinson had all of the evidence in the world to prove his innocence, but he didn’t stand a chance with society stacked against him. Atticus had hoped that by pursuing his dream he would change the society for the better. He put his hope and trust in the very men that caused many of the problems of his Maycomb society. “Now I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this man to his family. In the name of God, do your duty.”

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1135 Words | 5 Pages

Seeing as to how Mr.Tate said Mayella’s right side of her face was busted up during the rape, we can conclude that Atticus is implying that Bob Ewell beat his daughter Mayella. Which means that Tom Robinson didn’t rape Mayella and is innocent. Harper Lee further proved Atticus’s suspicion by writing “ He guided his arm to the Bible and hid rubber-like left hand sought contact with the black binding... the useless one slipped off…”. Each man’s testimony goes to prove that Tom Robinson was innocent of Mayella’s rape.

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693 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus Finch was a lawyer that had to be exploitive if he wanted to win cases. When he gave a closing argument for the case of Tom Robinson, he had to find a way to persuade his audience. Instead of making his speech specifically about Tom Robinson, Atticus stated that some people of a race may lie, but that is true for all humans, no matter what the color of their skin is. Atticus said that, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” (Lee, 30). He believed that you shouldn’t judge someone’s actions until

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828 Words | 4 Pages

The evidence boils down to you-did-I-didn 't. The jury couldn 't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson 's word against the Ewells, '" Atticus solemnly explains this to his brother. First of all, Atticus demonstrates courage when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape. Atticus knows he won 't win the case and like Mrs. Dubose in her battle against morphine, he is "licked" before he begins. Nevertheless, Atticus knows that Tom is innocent and that he must fight for him, since no one else will.

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822 Words | 4 Pages

The evidence boils down to you-did-I-didn 't. The jury couldn 't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson 's word against the Ewells, '" Atticus solemnly explains this to his brother. First of all, Atticus demonstrates courage when he undertakes the task of defending Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of rape. Atticus knows he won 't win the case and like Mrs. Dubose in her battle against morphine, he is "licked" before he begins. Nevertheless, Atticus knows that Tom is innocent and that he must fight for him, since no one else will.

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472 Words | 2 Pages

During the trial in the book to kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee. The Lawyer Atticus Finch uses rhetorical appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos tap into the jury's sense of ethics, logic and emotion to convey Tom Robinson, a black man, is innocence in a rape case. Atticus uses ethos many times throughout his closing argument, His most powerful ones are “I would like to… remind you that this case is not a difficult one… but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant”. This makes the jury think again because Atticus is forcing the jury to look in at their own morals when he says to be sure upon all reasonable doubt.

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