Pathos: The Emotional Side to Logic

Pathos represents one-third of the logic trio popularized by the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers of yore. It works with ethos and logos by appealing to the reader or audience’s emotions. After an author has established credibility and trustworthiness through ethos and logos, they then use pathos to garner support for their argument.

What is Pathos?

Pathos is a literary device used to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Pathos is most  common in argumentative, persuasive, and narrative writing. It is used to create an emotional  connection between the author (or speaker) or the reader and  characters in a story. In some cases, it may be used to emphasize a point. Pathos appeals to a reader or audience’s emotions so it is commonly used to create sympathy, empathy, or even fear. It can make a point more powerful and create a deeper understanding of the characters or events in a story.

When do writers use Pathos?

Pathos is a literary device used to evoke an emotional response from the reader. It is often used to create a connection between the reader and the characters in the story, to make the reader sympathize with the characters, or to create a sense of urgency or tension. In order to achieve the desired effect, the writer or speaker may use vivid imagery or figurative language to appeal to the reader or audience.

What are the types of Pathos

Pathos deals with emotions, and specifically, empathy. A writer or speaker makes an emotional appeal to the audience because they need that person or group to be on their side. The speaker or writer needs to convey that, for whatever reason, s/he/they is/are right.

Emotional substance – Traditionally, pathos appeals to the emotions. As such, a writer or speaker will use an emotional substance to get the reader or audience on their side.
Medium mood control – This type of pathos employs various techniques to achieve the desired effect. In this context, “medium” refers to the method through which a writer or speaker issues their appeal. For example, in order to lighten the mood, an appeal to the reader or audience may use humor to diffuse the situation and put the reader or audience at ease. The idea is not to make the reader or audience feel manipulated; a happy person is more easily persuaded. Now that we’ve cleared up the basics, let’s dig into some examples to see how pathos is used in different scenarios.

How do Writers use Pathos?

Pathos is a literary device used to evoke emotion in readers. It is intended to create a connection between the reader and the characters in a story, between an author and a reader, or between a speaker and an audience. In order to use pathos effectively,  we’ve comprised a brief list of tips below. Check them out.

1. Use vivid imagery to create an emotional connection between the reader and the characters.
2. Use metaphors and similes..
3. Use descriptive language to create a sense of empathy in the reader.
4. Use dialogue to create a sense of intimacy between the reader and the characters.
5. Use rhetorical questions to make the reader think about the characters’ emotions.
6. Use repetition to emphasize the emotions of the characters.
7. Use irony to create a sense of surprise and suspense.
8. Use symbolism to create a deeper meaning in the story.

Always remember, these are just tips. You do not need to incorporate them all into your plea or argument. Consider what your desired outcome is and use your best judgment on how best to achieve it.

Pathos in Literature 📚

In literature, there abound countless instances of which pathos can be identified and examined. This applies not only to ancient philosophical arguments but also to narrative prose and plays.

Pathos in Children’s Literature 🧸

Unlike its counterparts ethos and logos, it is not difficult to identify examples of pathos in children’s literature. Often, even when it teaches a lesson, like Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, it’s present, tugging at those heartstrings and sometimes, even provoking anger along with sadness as in the latter. Regardless of what type of emotion you may feel, below are some of the best examples we could find.

And last but not least, the third example, is Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit – The story of a toy rabbit’s journey to become real is such a powerful example of pathos because the rabbit’s longing for love and acceptance evokes a powerful emotional response in the reader that wants the rabbit to succeed

Pathos in Songs 🎧

Pathos in songs and music is actually a pretty easy catch. Almost every love song out there is in some way an example of pathos. Whether the singer is missing their lover or wishing they had never met them, the lyrics are intended to get the listener on their side.

Some the most powerful examples of pathos in song are as follows:

“We Are the World” by USA for Africa – This song speaks to the power of compassion and the need to help those in need. It is a plea to its listeners to take action.

“Nothing Compares to U,” Prince and Sinead O’Connor – Describes the heartbreak of missing an ex in a way that resonates with anyone who mourns the loss of their significant other.

Adele, “Someone Like You” – In this song, the artist addresses the pain and sadness that come after a breakup and the stages of grief that go along with it. Take a look at these lyrics which repeat throughout the song:

“I remember you said ‘sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead”

And in Poetry … ✍🏽

While a little more difficult to identify, pathos is also found in poetry. One of the most impactful examples of this occurs in a poem called “Testimony” from relatively new, modern poet, Hafizah Geter. She writes:

In this passage, the speaker appeals to the reader’s emotions by describing, in graphic detail, the abuses they suffered. The poem serves as a written record of the death of a 12-year-old boy at the hands of police officers. The passage above represents a very emotional call to action.

Pathos in Movies 🎥

There is no shortage of pathos in Disney movies. Disney banks on the emotional response their films elicit from the viewer. From Cinderella to The Lion King to Beauty and the Beast. You really don’t have to look too hard to find an emotional appeal in a Disney movie. Now, having said that, one of the most heartbreaking emotional appeals ever made occurs in The Fox and the Hound (1981).

While this example is not exactly the loss of a parent, it may as well be, in a sense. There’s no denying the emotional effect achieved from the sadness and sudden loneliness illustrated in this clip.

Of course, Disney is not the only source of pathos in film. There exists a long list to choose from. The problem is, there are just too many. But we’ve managed to identify some great examples.

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – The scene in which Andy Dufresne delivers an emotionally charged speech to Red about hope and freedom.
2. Forrest Gump (1994) – Forrest’s heartbreaking speech to Jenny about his love for her.
3. Titanic (1997) – Rose’s tear-jerking goodbye to Jack as he dies in icy waters right before being rescued.
4. Gladiator (2000) – Maximus’ emotional speech to the crowd before his death.

If nothing else, it appears cinema loves achieving a good cry from the audience.

Famous Movie Dialogue Highlighting Pathos

Rose says Goodbye to Jack, Titanic (1997)

Pathos in Advertising 📺

When it comes to advertising, there are a variety of ways marketers attempt to appeal to your sensibilities. This can come in the form of imagery, words, music, and signage to name a few. And while there are a multitude of examples out there to choose from, one of the most effective are the commercials for animal cruelty featuring Srah McLachlan.

These ads are so emotionally charged that they have been known to bring tears to the eyes. They are an effective example of pathos because she uses a variety of techniques to appeal to the viewer’s emotions: vivid imagery, melancholy music, and poignant words.

And a final word: The Counterparts to Pathos 👥

Ethos – Ethos is one-third of the logic trio popularized by the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers of old. Ethos is a rhetorical writing technique which appeals to a reader or audience’s sense of ethics. It helps the author build credibility and trustworthiness.
Logos – Also, one-third of the logic trio. Logos represent the logic in an author’s appeal to the reader and audience. To be effective, your argument should be properly cited, well-structured, and coherent in order to prove your credibility and persuade your audience.

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