Rhetorical Analysis Of To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

"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). In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus defends a black man. Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white women. Atticus actually plans on defending him instead of being racist like everybody else. Atticus has many impeccable arguments compared to Mr. Ewell's mediocre lies. Although Atticus´s defence was flawless, since everyone was racist and didn't think of fairness he was set up as guilty. In this closing argument Atticus uses all rhetorical devices. The rhetorical devices are ethos, logos, and pathos to attempt to convince the jury that Tom is indeed innocent.

Ethos does a remarkable job of convincing the jury. Atticus firmly believes that the court is racist and supports his belief through this claim. “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…”(Atticus). This claim shows Atticus trying to show them from another perspective of what they do and how it is not fair in any way possible to the black men, women, and children. Another thing Atticus presumes is that the courts are unreliable and completely based on whether the people like the person or not. Not whether they are innocent or guilty, but rather beliefs that are discriminate. “I’m not idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system- that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality.