Pathos - Examples and Definition of Pathos

Pathos Definition
Pathos is a great of an enjoy in life, or a work of art, that stirs up feelings of pity, sympathy, and sorrow. Pathos may be expressed thru words, pictures, or maybe with gestures of the body.

Pathos is an essential device of persuasion in arguments. Pathos is a way of convincing human beings with a controversy drawn out thru an emotional response. Analyzing examples of pathos, one would come to the belief that it differs from different “components of persuasion,” namely “ethos” and “logos.” Ethos approach convincing others through the credibility of a persuader, at the same time as emblems is a way to persuade others by means of using common sense and reason.

Common Examples of Pathos
For a better information of the subject, permit us have a look at some pathos examples from every day conversations:

“If we don’t depart this place soon, we’ll be yelling for help. There’s no person to help us right here, allow’s get out of here and live.” – This statement evokes feelings of fear.
The “Made in America” label on numerous products sold in America tries to enhance income through attractive to customers’ sense of patriotism.
Ads encouraging charitable donations show small youngsters living in pathetic conditions, to awaken pity in human beings.
Referring to a rustic as “the motherland” stirs up patriotic feelings in individuals dwelling in that usa or state.
A soft, instrumental symphony may additionally arouse people emotionally.
Examples of Pathos in Literature
Let us turn to literature to trace some examples of pathos:

Example #1: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (By Mark Twain)
Consider this excerpt from bankruptcy 8 of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:

He had supposed the high-quality in the world, and been handled like a dog—like a totally dog. She could be sorry someday—maybe while it was too late. Ah, if he could only die TEMPORARILY!

Here, Tom arouses feelings of pity in readers’ minds by telling how the girl, whom he loved, had dealt with him like an animal, notwithstanding his sincere emotions for her. He wishes he had died and then she might feel sorry for him.

Example #2: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is well known for its pathos. Mr. Collins’ confession to Elizabeth that he wishes her to be his destiny partner evokes emotions of sympathy in readers, as they feel an emotional depth in his proposal.

Believe me, my pricey Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty adds in your other perfections. But you can rarely doubt the object of my discourse, however your female delicacy may also lead you to dissemble. For, as almost as soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the accomplice of my destiny life!

Example #3: Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare)
Consider this excerpt from Act V of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet:

Then she is well, and nothing may be ill.
Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument,
And her immortal part with angels lives.
I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault.

Romeo’s servant Balthasar invokes pity the various audience, when he informs Romeo – who become waiting impatiently to hear approximately Juliet – that Juliet is useless and is buried in her family’s vault. We feel sorry for the untimely dying of Juliet and her heartbroken Romeo.

Example #4: Ol’ Man River (By Paul Robeson)
These strains are taken from Ol’ Man River, a lyric composed via Paul Robeson:

Darkies paintings on de Mississippi
Darkies paintings at the same time as de white parents play

We feel overcome with the aid of pity for Black Americans [“Darkies”] who had been enslaved to White Americans [“white folks”]. The contrast of the phrases “paintings” and “play” shows the social disparity between the 2 races.

Example #5: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (By Maya Angelou)
In Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, pathos is created by supplying a assessment between “the free chook” and “a caged fowl.”

The free fowl thinks of every other breeze
and the exchange winds soft thru the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a sunrise vivid lawn
and he names the sky his own

But a caged fowl stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his ft are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

In this excerpt, we see the phrases in formidable above are related to a hen in a cage, which makes us feel pity closer to that miserable chicken.

Function of Pathos
We humans are emotional beings, and writers understand it very well. They introduce pathos of their works to touch upon our sensitive senses of pity, sympathy, sorrow, trying to develop an emotional reference to readers.

In addition, feelings are part of real life. Thus, by means of giving pathos expression of their works, writers bring their narratives, characters, and themes nearer to real life. Furthermore, using pathos by means of a debater in a controversy appeals to people emotionally, making it a device to convince people and trade their opinions.