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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
Act 1
Explanation and Analysis—Linda's Faithfulness:
Willy’s wife, Linda, creates pathos (appeals to the audience's emotions) through her unwavering devotion to her husband, evoking sympathy for Willy and, in the process, herself. When Biff yells at his mother to “stop making excuses” for Willy’s behavior in Act 1, she rallies to her husband’s defense:
I don’t say he’s a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that’s ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him.
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Act 2
Explanation and Analysis—Better Dead Than Alive:
When visiting Charley at work in Act 2, Willy nearly breaks down. His confession to Charley is an example of pathos (an appeal to the audience's emotions):
Unlock with LitCharts A+WILLY (on the verge of tears): Charley, you’re the only friend I’ve got. Isn’t that remarkable?
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Explanation and Analysis—Willy's Delusion:
One of the play’s many ironies is Willy’s unraveling mind. The audience is aware of Willy’s deteriorating mind, even though he himself is not, and this gap in understanding is an example of pathos: it appeals to the audience's emotions and cultivates sympathy toward the aging salesman. Willy’s fraying memory announces itself early in Act 1, when he first addresses his sons and wife from the past. Repeated flashbacks—he speaks to his deceased brother Ben, Bernard, and Charley—affirm his crumbling sanity and evoke the reader’s pity.
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