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Oxymorons
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
April Sixth, 1928
Explanation and Analysis—Uncle Maury's Letter:
In the middle of Jason’s segment, he receives a letter from his Uncle Maury. As usual, Maury hopes to persuade Jason to sign off on a withdrawal of money from Jason’s mother’s account, purportedly to support a business venture. The final paragraph of Maury’s letter reads:
This is in confidence, you will understand, from one business man to another; we will harvest our own vineyards, eh? And knowing your Mother's delicate health and that timorousness which such delicately nurtured Southern ladies would naturally feel regarding matters of business, and their charming proneness to divulge unwittingly such matters in conversation, I would suggest that you do not mention it to her at all. On second thought, I advise you not to do so. It might be better to simply restore this sum to the bank at some future date, say in a lump sum with the other small sums for which I am indebted to her, and say nothing about it at all. It is our duty to shield her from the crass material world as much as possible.
This paragraph is an example of pathos: a piece of persuasive writing that appeals to Jason's emotions. Maury hopes to play on Jason’s sense of duty and sensitivity to persuade him to conceal the letter from Jason’s mother, and to simply sign off without consulting her. It’s a particularly manipulative example: Maury masks falsehoods and self-interest with appeals to morality and honor.
Jason’s response, though, highlights both his perceptiveness and his cynicism. He is utterly unmoved by Maury’s pathos, and immediately shows the letter to his mother. On one hand, this reveals him to be discerning and perceptive; he doesn’t fall for Maury’s manipulation. On the other, he is coarse and cynical enough to be immune to emotional appeals. Ultimately, he’s persuaded only by things that directly and logically impact him.
Related Themes:
