Previous
Dramatic Irony
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
Book 3
Explanation and Analysis—Elders:
On both the Achaean and Trojan side, retired fighters and aging mentors play an important role in strategizing and providing support. While the elder characters don't typically participate in the fighting, they're valued for their ability to think, speak, and advise. In their speeches, they make use of a range of rhetorical strategies—primarily ethos, but also pathos and logos—to sway the minds of the younger men. Through the motif of elders and old age, Homer shows that youth and physical strength aren't the only attributes that command respect in the war.
Menelaus sums up this view in Book 3, when he agrees to a one-on-one duel with Paris:
The minds of the younger men are always flighty,
but let an old man stand his ground among them,
one who can see the days behind, the days ahead—
that is the best hope for peace, for both our armies.
In this part, Menelaus has just expressed distrust of Priam's "royal sons" and requested Priam as a witness to their oath. This is striking: he doubts the intentions and conduct of Hector and Paris but trusts that their father will work towards mutual, enduring peace. This is because Priam is an old man, who "can see the days behind" and "the days ahead."
Another important elder character in the Iliad is Nestor, "the seasoned charioteer." When the Achaeans are laying plans and discussing tactics, Nestor tends to be front and center. Agamemnon acknowledges that "the great leveler, age, has worn [him] down," but that his advice is indispensable. At one point, Nestor proudly points out that "no one will heap contempt on what [he says], not even mighty Agamemnon." Nestor often employs ethos before and during his speeches. To emphasize his own authority, he reminds his listeners that he's advised some of the "strongest mortals ever bred on earth." And to prove that his wisdom comes from experience, he often looks back on his younger days on the battlefield. Through Nestor, Homer shows that though age may bring physical weakness, it also brings new forms of strength.
One of Achilles's main advisors is Phoenix, another elder character. When the embassy fails to convince Achilles to rejoin the battle, Phoenix makes an attempt of his own. In his speech, he employs pathos when he evokes Achilles's childhood:"I loved you from the heart [...] I made you my son, I tried, so someday you might fight disaster off my back." Phoenix also employs logos, reasoning that it's "[h]arder to save the warships once they’re up in flames." Overall, Achilles's stubbornness seems to be the exception to the rule and, for the most part, Homer gives the impression that the younger men listen to their elders.
Related Themes:
