Medical Evidence In Atticus Finch's 'Closing Remarks'

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A defendant lawyer's job is always to prove their client's innocence, no matter how hard the job is. However, when it comes down to having a black client in a courtroom full of white supremacy, how could the lawyer convince everyone of the black man's innocence and make them look past their racist ways? Atticus Finch's "Closing Remarks" are his last effort to persuade the jury of the defendant's, Tom Robinson's, innocence and to remind them of their duty to perceive all men as equal. Though Atticus knows he stands against racial inequality, he still takes pride in himself and his disclosure to the jury. With many vital factors to Atticus's disclosure, his most substantial factors include the use of logos when identifying a lack of medical evidence …show more content…

Atticus starts by mentioning how this case should not have come to trial originally by saying, "The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson was charged with ever took place." This statement is an appeal to logos because it is true that there is not any medical evidence supporting Tom Robinson's crime. This appeal to logos shows no way to say that Tom Robinson committed this crime against Mayella. Without medical examination, the beatings that Mayella faced are inaccurate to Tom Robinson. There is only the testimony of the two …show more content…

Atticus continues his statement of defending Tom Robinson with "... But this is a truth that applies to the human race and no particular race of men." However, that quote is only after saying, "... You gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption-the evil assumption-that all Negroes lie." Atticus finishes his statement by expressing, "There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man who has never looked upon a woman with desire." By saying this, Atticus is using the appeal of ethos by explaining how the flaws of both black and white men are similar. This effect given was to have the jury see eye to eye with black men and realize in a specific way that their flaws are the same as any white

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