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Examples Of Atticus Finch's Ethos In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Attorney Atticus Finch relies on ethos persuasion in the closing argument containing the intention to connect with the jury by highlighting the code of society along with the trustworthiness of the courtroom. Recently, Mayella Ewell is on trial prosecuting Tom Robinson on charges of rape. Atticus Finch (Tom’s Lawyer) is currently summing up his cross examination of Mayella in his closing statement. “She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with… she tempted a Negro.” (272) Atticus Finch connects the Jury to the code of society, which is the long-lived and unbroken belief in which any white woman with a negro …show more content…

Moreover, this strengthens the case because the Jury can now see that Atticus is fighting for the good of the county, which assures his credibility of judgement. Additionally, Atticus highlights his trustworthiness in the court system. The brilliant lawyer is nearing the end of his closing statement and strives to drive his point home. He shatters the barriers between color and white by mentioning the one place where all Americans are treated equal, the courtroom. To finally win over the jury in favor of his case Atticus uses ethos when he claims, “Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.” (274) Here is an excellent example of Mr. Finch and how he marries sweet talk with ethos. He relates the jury the honorable and trustworthy trait of the court. He states a court is only as good as the members of the jury. In essence, Atticus hints the jury is excellent because they fulfill a code of honor and trust. Deeper than the surface, Atticus not only acquires credibility to himself but also offers it to the jury as he trusts the jury in hope that they trust him as

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For the closing statement of Atticus was moving speech that could not determine the fate of Tom Robinson’s verdict. Atticus used artistic proofs, anaphora, and multiple other persuasive tools to connect with his audience and to prove to the jury that Tom Robinson was innocent. Even with the substantial evidence against the Ewell’s testimony the prejudice and racism that was being shown to the black community in Maycomb overcame the truth. In Atticus’s closing statement he attempted to create people of all races equal in the court

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Atticus states, “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 the name of God, do your duty.” Him saying at the end to do your duty, tells the jury that you are doing your job and if you find this man innocent then he is, but you cannot find this man guilty because of who he is on the outside. Overall, he leaves the jurors to make the right decision in a professional manner.

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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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In Atticus' closing speech and “life isn't fair- deal with it” by Mike Myatt both share the idea of fairness and what is right. Atticus describes this as the first form of rhetoric ethos, as does MIke Myatt in his argument about what is fair and what is not. Atticus' speech was a form of ethos meaning it appeals to an audience or a reader's ethics, this is shown in speech stating “I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore the defendant to his family.” This quote near the end of the speech describes how Atticus reviews the evidence in the trial and points out that all men should be treated equally but are not.

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Ultimately, Atticus had an acceptable course of action based on the evidence shown. Atticus Finch became a part of a very controversial court case, and tried his best to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, even though he knew it would be tough to win. On page 274, Atticus says, “ Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal.” In other words, Atticus believes that for the court system to be fair, it requires all evaluees to remember that all men are created equal no matter what their skin color looks like. During this time period, racism was very strong and sided with the whites.

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Atticus is an idealist and knows what is right and what is wrong. Atticus shows the importance of compassion and doing the right thing. “Atticus insists the truth about what occured at the Ewell house will be heard in court. This further illustrates his integrity” (Text

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Atticus uses this quote to show the jury that even though

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, Attius Finch uses ethos and logos to convince the jury of Tom’s innocence by saying Mayella kissed a black man and that guilt motivated her. Atticus uses ethos to convince the jury of Tom's innocence by saying that Mayella felt motivated by the guilt she felt about kissing a black man. In the argument Atticus says “Not an old uncle, but a strong young black man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.”

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Being a lawyer is not the easiest thing to be, trying to prove one’s innocence or even guiltiness in the court of law. In Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, A man by the name of Atticus Finch is a lawyer for the town of Maycomb County trying to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson for the rape of Mayella Ewell. Atticus’s arguments throughout the case make valid strong points to persuade the jurors to see his innocence by trying to prove that Tom never laid a hand on her and that Tom never raped her. During the first part of the trial in chapter 17, Atticus calls up Mr. Bob Ewell, Mayella father, to testify.

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Atticus, a very clever and well-reflected lawyer, takes the case in hopes of framing the right person, and through hard work he manages to do that in the

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Atticus lives by a code: let your conscience be your guide. That’s why he takes on the case at the heart of the story, the defense of a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Scout tells Atticus that most people in the town think it’s wrong to defend the accused man. But Atticus explains that “they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions. But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.

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Atticus is faced with many threats along the way and is shunned in the community for defending a man of such a heinous crime. During the trial Atticus makes many strong arguments and it is plainly

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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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When putting together a two hour film based on a novel, film directors come across innumerable obstacles that include cutting essential themes and leaving out important characters. Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by author Harper Lee, published in 1960 and two years later, released as a movie. To Kill a Mockingbird occurs during the Great Depression in Maycomb, Alabama, a city of which was heavy on prejudice and racism of those lowest of social status. Main characters Scout and Jem, raised by Atticus Finch, absorb crucial lessons over their childhood, such as: assimilate the viewpoint from others’ perspectives, proper etiquette, and the truth about how the population of Maycomb treats those lower than themselves. Film director Robert Mulligan, although directed a sublime movie, had to discard important

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