Examples Of Atticus Closing Argument

Throughout the court scene, but specifically in his closing argument, Atticus skillfully and effectively used each rhetorical element of pathos, ethos, and logos to convey to the jury that Tom Robinson was not guilty. As a skilled lawyer, Atticus was able to question the ethical standpoint of the opposition, logically imply using factual information that Tom Robinson could not have done what he was being prosecuted for, and appealed to the emotions of the jury in a way that was intended to convince them to believe his side. Although the jury did not side in Atticus’s favor, his argument was compelling, and in modern society, it would have most likely won the benevolence of the jury.

Ethos: Atticus’s use of ethos in his closing argument to

His argument is compelling because it questions in an emotional way how society at the time could have influenced what Mayella said, and what the jury’s outcome will be. Atticus pleads that the jury puts their hatred behind them, and fairly decides whether Tom was guilty or not, not based on race, but on evidence. This pathos is best shown in the following quote: “‘...confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption—the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber. Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson’s skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, and some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire’” (Lee 232). As was mentioned before, this quote impactfully appeals to the emotions of the jury. Atticus was able to show that the idea that all Black people are immoral, lie, and commit crimes, is untrue. He

Atticus uses factual evidence, as well as common sense and rationale, to reason that because of Tom’s physical condition, he could not have “beaten up” Mayella. Atticus’s use of logos is best reflected by the following quote: “‘Her father saw it, and the defendant has testified as to his remarks. What did her father do? We don’t know, but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left. We do know in part what Mr. Ewell did: he did what any God-fearing, persevering, respectable white man would do under the circumstances—he swore out a warrant, no doubt signing it 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’” (Lee 232). Atticus was very clever in using this piece of evidence against the opposition. To summarize, Atticus says that Mayella was severely beaten on the left side. He explains how Tom Robinson’s only good hand is his right hand, meaning that it would have been almost impossible for Tom to have beaten Mayella on the left. To add to this, Atticus also says that Mr. Ewell expressed that he was left-handed, a sure tell sign that he could have been the one to beat Mayella up on the left side. By logically explaining to the Jury that Tom Robinson