During the trial in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Atticus uses the three forms rhetoric to defend Tom Robinson, Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. One of the major points Atticus uses demonstrates the first form of rhetoric, Ethos. At the ending of Atticus’ closing statement, he says, “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. In the name of God, do your duty” (Lee, 4). This statement demonstrates Ethos because he is appealing to the jury’s moral code, and their personal code of conduct. If the jury finds Tom Robinson as guilty, he will be executed. Atticus is truly pushing for the jury to realize they are about to sentence an innocent man to death. …show more content…
Although all of the Pathos arguments are very strong, there is one part of Atticus’ closing statement that uses Pathos and really changes the dynamic of the whole trial. In the middle of Atticus’ closing statement, he says to the jury, “I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt” (Lee, 2). This quote is powerful because he’s pointing out that this case shouldn’t be happening, and Mr. Ewell has had Mayella go on trial to get rid of her guilt. To get her biggest mistake taken care of forever. She must get Tom Robinson away from her so he would never have to see him again. Seeing Tom brought back thoughts of what she had done, and she knows that what she did is wrong, so she feels guilty. Atticus is saying that he feels bad for Mayella. She’s poor, she has to take care of 7 siblings, she doesn’t have enough food to eat, because they get money from the government, but because her dad is an alcoholic, he uses the check to buy alcohol. Nobody helps Mayella, they live by the dump, and they have no running water. Atticus is acknowledging that yes, he feels bad for Mayella and how she lives, but he doesn’t feel bad enough to kill an innocent man. This statement points out to the jury why this