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Paradox
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 2, Scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Gaunt as a Grave:
On his deathbed, John of Gaunt wields pathos in his attempt to convince King Richard II to heed his advice by respecting the ancestral rights of England’s noble families.
The pleasure that some fathers feed upon
Is my strict fast—I mean my children’s looks—
And, therein fasting, hast thou made me gaunt.
Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave,
Whose hollow womb inherits naught but bones.
Related Themes:
Act 5, Scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—My Transgressing Boy:
The Duchess of York wields pathos in her attempt to save the life of her son, the Duke of Aumerle, by seeking pardon from Henry Bolingbroke, now King Henry IV. Pleading before the new King on her knees, she states:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Not yet, I thee beseech.
Forever will I walk upon my knees
And never see day that the happy sees,
Till thou give joy, until thou bid me joy
By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy.
Related Themes:
