Previous
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
Experiences in a Concentration Camp
Explanation and Analysis—Anecdotes:
In addition to logos and ethos, Frankl often uses the third mode of persuasion, pathos (appeal to sympathy), in order to validate his views on the psychology of prisoners and on logotherapy. Most instances of pathos occur in the form of personal anecdotes, which provide intimate examples of his scientific observations.
One such example of Frankl’s pathos appeal is at the very beginning of Part I, when he introduces the first stage of the prisoners’ psychological reactions: shock. Rather than, for example, cite empirical evidence supporting the view that prisoners struggle to comprehend their new situations, he includes an example from his own life:
The symptom that characterizes the first phase is shock. Under certain conditions shock may even precede the prisoner’s formal admission to the camp. I shall give as an example the circumstances of my own admission.
Frankl continues his argument with a moving account of his disorientation upon arriving at the concentration camp. This passage, which features figurative language to describe the guards’ commands, as well as rhetorical questioning to convey the unending hopelessness of the prisoners, appeals to the readers’ empathy toward Frankl. Such a powerful memory strengthens Frankl’s argument about shock because it makes the reader participate in the experience rather than learn of it as an abstraction.
This technique of including memories alongside general assertions about the nature of the prisoners’ psychology is characteristic of Man’s Search for Meaning, particularly Part I. Through numerous anecdotes, the readers become closer to understanding even the most incomprehensible experiences, learning firsthand from Frankl about the importance of searching for meaning.
Related Themes:
