Essay On Atticus Finch's Closing Argument

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.

Atticus uses ethos, such as his credibility as a lawyer and a respected member of the community so he can establish his authority and credibility with the jury. He refers to his integrity and standing in the community when he tells the jury that he has nothing to gain by defending Tom Robinson, but is simply doing his duty as a lawyer to defend his client. Atticus also uses pathos, or an appeal to the emotions of the jury, to create a sense of sympathy and compassion for Tom Robinson. He paints a vivid picture of the victim’s injuries and the unfairness of the accusations against Tom Robinson, appealing to the jury’s sense of justice and fairness.

He avoids using slang and opts into using formal language to convey his argument clearly for the jury. As well as only bringing up valid points, such as Tom not being able to use one of his hands and just wanting to help. Additionally, Atticus uses a calm and controlled tone throughout his speech. He remains composed which lends an air of credibility and authority to his argument which would hopefully convince the jury that Tom is