The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Atticus Finch a lawyer takes on a case to defend a hard working african american man named Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is accused of raping and beating a white women named Mayella Ewell. Atticus’s closing argument was effective towards the jury, throughout atticus’s speech he uses rhetoric appeals such as ethos, pathos, and logos.
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
Isaiah says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV). Following God’s will by doing good and correcting wrong defines Atticus Finch, a lawyer in Harper Lee’s book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus defends an innocent black man, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell. The trial takes place in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama, a small racist town.
Preston Geerinck Per. 1 4/25/17 Mrs. Granahan-Smith Speech Analysis Atticus Finch of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird tackled the task of defending the case of Tom Robinson who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell.
In the year of 1935 a man was put on trial for a crime he never could have committed, but a lawyer named Atticus fighter to save his life by using his powers in the courtroom. This case was about the rape of Mayella Ewell by an African American man in a small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch, one of the town’s best lawyers has an insurmountable task ahead of him when he takes on the case of defending Tom from an extremely biased jury. In his arguments he uses persuasion techniques such as Ethos, Logos and Pathos to convince the jury of Tom’s apparent innocence.
Atticus Finch is one of the most steadfastly honest and moral characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. His character remains, for the most part, unchanged throughout the novel. Atticus overcomes prejudice through courage, tolerance and standing up for what he believes in. Atticus serves as the moral conscience of Maycomb, a man of all people-white and black, rich and poor, who cannot tell a lie, treats all people equally and rarely has a bad word to say about anyone. Although Atticus’s daughter, Scout is the narrator and the story mostly revolve after Atticus’s children, Scout and Jem, Atticus emerges as the central and most powerful figure.
In the story To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has completely different views from the rest of Maycomb, who are heavily influenced by rumors and racism. He takes on a huge role in defending a black man, Tom Robinson, and faces many issues from other people by doing so. Atticus knows his client,
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, reveals how listening to one's conscience can show strength while giving into to society's expectations can show weakness. Atticus shows his strength by not giving into society's popular belief that white people are better than black people. He explains to Scout his feelings when a white man cheats a black man. He says, "Whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash" (252.) By following his conscience, Atticus remains true to himself and his children which is hard to do in such a polarized society.
Every day in our lives, heroes are all around us. They may not be what society tells us is a hero, like Superman or Batman. They do not wear fancy costumes or have super powers. But these heroes change the lives of the people around them, for the better. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is the charismatic, understanding father of Scout and Jem Finch as well as a hard working lawyer in Maycomb County, Alabama.
Atticus is helping establish one of the main themes of this book, morality and ethics. He knows that Tom will not be acquitted, but he still gets the truth out which is a huge accomplishment. It leaves suspense in the story because the audience is not sure what it will accomplish, but they are hoping for something. It is important also because it shows one to take chances. Lee tries to get that across because nothing will happen unless someone tries to do something.
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.
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.
However, Tom is black and he cannot be innocent in the eyes of most people. Throught the closing argument Atticus Finch uses the rhetorical devices -- ethos, logos, and pathos -- to convince the jury of Tom’s innocence. Atticus used ethos to demonstrate his credibility and reveal his opinion about this case. Atticus does not concur with introducing this case to the court. “To begin
If you were faced with an impossible feat would you give up or keep trying? The story of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is told through a young girl named Jean Louise Finch although she is more commonly known just as Scout. The book discusses heavy, real world problems such as racism and abuse through the eyes of a young girl. Atticus shows ambition throughout the book when he stands up for Tom Robinson and battles his case out to the very end. The first time we see the ambition of Atticus is on page 195.
The main theme of the book is that fairness and justice are two virtues that are extremely hard to find. The central question, “How can a virtuous person continue to believe in these morals and not get discouraged?” is portrayed by the central characters Atticus and Scout. The deeply ingrained prejudice, that people of color cannot hope to live up to those who are “high class and white ” is explored and exposed. Sexism and class warfare are other conflicts within the story line. People in Maycomb are discriminated against because of the color of their skin, their social class and their gender.
