ipl-logo

Medical Evidence In Atticus Finch's 'Closing Remarks'

669 Words3 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 …show more content…

Atticus starts by mentioning how this case should not have come to trial originally by saying, "The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson was charged with ever took place." This statement is an appeal to logos because it is true that there is not any medical evidence supporting Tom Robinson's crime. This appeal to logos shows no way to say that Tom Robinson committed this crime against Mayella. Without medical examination, the beatings that Mayella faced are inaccurate to Tom Robinson. There is only the testimony of the two …show more content…

Atticus continues his statement of defending Tom Robinson with "... But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men." However, that quote is only after saying, "... You gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption-the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie." Atticus finishes his statement by expressing, "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 who has never looked upon a woman with desire." By saying this, Atticus is using the appeal of ethos by explaining how the flaws of both black and white men are similar. This effect given was to have the jury see eye to eye with black men and realize in a specific way that their flaws are the same as any white

Show More
Related
490 Words | 2 Pages

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

Read More
421 Words | 2 Pages

tticus’s closing argument is one of the most important pieces in To Kill a Mockingbird . Throughout his closing argument, Atticus uses logos to sway the racist jury. He points out the lack of evidence and the defendants illogical, unfactual testimony. His case is strengthened greatly by using Tom’s physical disability as evidence of the defendant’s innocence. This speech was amazingly well-done and nearly secured Tom’s innocence.

Read More
369 Words | 2 Pages

There are tons of examples in this book that support this quote and lesson. One example is where everyone thought that Tom Robinson raped Mayella, and was guilty. Everyone thought that just, because the color of his skin. Atticus looked in Tom’s

Read More
458 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
411 Words | 2 Pages

This claim is clearly and explicitly expressing to the jury that Tom Robinson did not do anything. Atticus is implying that Tom Robinson is not guilty but is more the

Read More
1022 Words | 5 Pages

In contrast with Jessie Jackson and Dr. King’s speeches, Atticus Finch uses a large amount of logos in his closing argument to back his reasoning up with clearly displayed evidence. Atticus Finch utilizes logic because he is a lawyer. Atticus’s wisdom can be exemplified through Atticus’s very own words when he says, “There is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left” (Lee 208). To explain, Atticus employs his intuition and experience to determine that Bob Ewell is most likely the assaulter. In addition, Atticus Finch’s word choice makes the situation more dire and believable.

Read More
697 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus creates an assertive, serious, and persuasive aesthetic in Excerpt 8. He expresses this aesthetic by stating, ”She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable. She kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong young Negro man.

Read More
458 Words | 2 Pages

Atticus's closing argument in To Kill a Mockingbird is a good display of several talking and writing styles such as ethos, pathos, and logos. His closing argument uses a tone that contributes to the persuasive effectiveness of his argument. Atticus Finch’s speech is an attempt to appeal to the jury to look beyond racial prejudice and to do what is right. I am going to attempt to analyze and show how Atticus uses these rhetorical strategies to contribute to the poignancy and effectiveness of his closing argument.

Read More
405 Words | 2 Pages

This cruelty was presented to the reader conspicuously throughout different instances. However, Lee utilized the character Atticus to try and combat the racism and to be an exemplary man of empathy. One situation that shows this would be Atticus's final statement at the end of the Tom Robinson trial. “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” (Lee 275).

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

Atticus most effectively uses emotionally charged language while being respectful in his final remarks to elicit emotions and sympathy to strengthen his facts to bring justice to Tom Robinson. Atticus identifies Tom’s human characteristics to garner sympathy from the jury. Throughout his final remarks on the case he uses certain words to make the audience see Tom as a human worthy of respect and justice. Here, Atticus provides the evidence where the court and jury have prejudice towards Tom.

Read More
1604 Words | 7 Pages

Atticus uses his credibility as a renowned lawyer in Maycomb County and his confidence in Tom Robinson 's to prove the jury of Tom 's innocence. He also uses the simplicity in differentiating between black and white to show the simplicity of figuring out who is lying in this case, and who is not. He then goes on to say "The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is."

Read More
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

Read More
472 Words | 2 Pages

He uses this by saying “ 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.” By saying this Atticus is forcing the jury to feel compassionate because they realize their own fault. Atticus also says “All men are created equal, a phrase that the Yankees and the distaff side of the Executive branch in Washington are fond of hurling at us.” When Atticus says this it reminds the jury to have compassion because all men are created equal. Even the black

Read More
748 Words | 3 Pages

The person speaking is Atticus because he is giving his final statement in his trial with Tom Robinson,”’She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old Uncle, but a strong young negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.’” (272)

Read More
1108 Words | 5 Pages

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird famously said in his closing arguments: "You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, 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 no particular race of men." (pg 232) What Atticus is trying to convey is a foreign concept to most people in Maycomb county. Atticus is trying to convey a point of equality and no prejudice in a world of social inequality which, as one can imagine, didn 't go over so well.

Read More

More about Medical Evidence In Atticus Finch's 'Closing Remarks'

Related Topics

Open Document