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Motifs
Definition of Pathos
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Progress Report 17
Explanation and Analysis—Please...Please:
In these closing lines, Keyes appeals to readers using pathos to get across the depth of Charlie’s loss. Charlie, having returned to his former state of very low IQ, fights through despair and shame as he forces Alice to leave him:
Alice came to the door again [...] She cryed and I cryed to but I woudnt let her in because I didnt want her to laff at me. I told her I didnt like her any more and I didnt want to be smart any more either. Thats not true but. I still love her and I still want to be smart but I had to say that so she woud go away. I dont want that. I got to get a job. Please . . . please . . . dont let me forget how to reed and rite . .
When an author uses pathos, they are using language or imagery to trigger an emotional response in their audience in support of an argument or narrative. Here, the reader can see the extent of Charlie’s regression through his childlike language and misspelled words. Charlie’s simple words and the way he pleads with an unseen God make the loss of all he was more painful for the reader, who remembers how advanced he’d been previously. Charlie’s decision to lie to Alice, claiming he no longer likes her and does not want to be smart, also shows the shame and fear he feels about his decline. He still loves her just as much as he ever did, but he is trying to protect her from seeing how much he has changed. He’s also frightened she’ll laugh at him, so by shutting her out he’s also defending himself from possible ridicule. He can't bear the thought that she would mock him like the others once did.
His final plea, “Please . . . please . . . dont let me forget how to reed and rite . .,” is painful to read. Charlie begs to hold onto the small skills he still has, hoping that he’ll at least get to keep the very basic abilities he had before the operation changed his brain. The repetition of this small request increases the emotional effect of his plea, drawing the reader into Charlie’s fear and helplessness as all of his efforts crumble around him.
Related Themes:
