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Literary Devices
Definition of Ethos
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Ethos
Explanation and Analysis—The Man’s Argument:
In a subtle example of logos, the man tries to convince the girl to get an abortion by appealing to reason, as seen in the following passage:
“We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before.”
“What makes you think so?”
“That’s the only thing that bothers us. It’s the only thing that’s made us unhappy.”
The girl looked at the bead curtain, put her hand out and took hold of two of the strings of beads.
“And you think then we’ll be all right and be happy.”
“I know we will. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots of people that have done it.”
The man tries to persuade the girl to have an abortion by using logic: they were happy before she became pregnant—therefore, he suggests, the pregnancy is “the only thing” getting in the way of their happiness, which means that, if the girl weren't pregnant anymore, they would "be fine" again.
The man goes on to make an appeal to the girl using ethos, meaning that he tries to convince her to have an abortion by emphasizing his supposed authority on the subject. He does this by saying that he knows the girl doesn’t need to worry because he’s “known lots of people that have done it.” By saying this, he implies that he is an expert on the safety of abortions because he has (indirect) experience with them.
While the man goes onto say later in the story that he doesn’t want the girl to have an abortion unless she wants to, it’s clear from the different rhetorical strategies he’s using that he is trying to manipulate her into making the decision that most benefits him. While she may want to start a family, he wants to live a life of freedom, travel, and leisure and isn’t ready to give that up yet.
Related Themes:
