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Dramatic Irony
Definition of Ethos
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Ethos is... read full definition
Ethos, along with logos and pathos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Chapter 9
Explanation and Analysis—Representative of Anarres:
At a political demonstration in Capitol Square, Shevek speaks before the crowd as a representative of Anarres. In this speech, he expresses the beliefs that compelled him to travel to Urras in the first place, beliefs about the bond between people and the possibility of societal change. Shevek uses ethos to make his argument. He appeals to the audience's respect for authority by emphasizing his unique credibility as a man from a different world:
I am here because you see in me the promise, the promise that we made two hundred years ago in this city—the promise kept. We have kept it, on Anarres. We have nothing but our freedom. We have nothing to give you but your own freedom. We have no law but the single principle of mutual aid between individuals. We have no government but the single principle of free association.
Shevek's use of ethos in this speech is comprehensive. As an Anarresti, Shevek is the only man on the planet who can attest to the character of a world organized around anarchism. This position grants him an unimpeachable authority on the subject. He was famous before his arrival for his reputation as a genius physicist, but his foreignness on Urras makes him a celebrity, a living example of a different world. In the speech, his concise description of Anarresti society cements his expertise on the subject. Furthermore, Shevek establishes his trustworthiness with the audience by speaking of his intentions and asserting that he desires nothing from his audience besides what they already want for themselves. He speaks "their mind, their being, in their language." He emphasizes the commonalities between him and his audience: their shared goals and shared humanity. Shevek has been established over the course of the novel as a charismatic individual and speaker. Even though a reader cannot hear his voice, his rhetoric alone is enough to persuade.
Related Themes:
