Ethos and Pathos Today

Ethos

In order to understand the realm of ethics to a great extent, one should know the key parameters and justifications that under which these two parameters fall. Ethos and Pathos have been derived out of Greek context, where ethos suggest the 'character' which is used to describe and explain the associated and related beliefs that individuals have related to their own gathering, vicinity, domicile or a particular ideology. Both ethos and pathos are crucial and important turning points of literature, especially prominent in the areas of narrating a story and other items accordingly.

Example 1: William Shakespeare 'The Merchant of Venice'

The impact of Ethos shall be discussed in great detail in terms of making justifications regarding what accounts have been brought forth with reference to context of ethos in the text of literature. The Merchant of Venice itself had been a significant piece of work that had been put forth by Shakespeare to specifically highlight the credibility of speech and credibility that has been put forth for individual readers and for the audience watching it as a play being performed. Through the years, The Merchant of Venice has been one of William Shakespeare's most popular and most frequently performed plays. The work has an interesting and fast-moving plot, and it evokes an idyllic, uncorrupted world reminiscent of folktale and romance. From the opening description of Antonio's nameless sadness, the world is bathed in light and music. The insistently improbable plot is complicated only by the evil influence of Shylock, and he is disposed of by the end of act 4. However, Shakespeare uses this fragile vehicle to make significant points about justice, mercy, and friendship, three typical Renaissance virtues. Although some critics suggest that the play contains all of the elements of tragedy only to be rescued by a comic resolution, the tone of the whole play creates a benevolent world in which, despite some opposition, things will always work out for the best.

The story, based on ancient tales that could have been drawn from many sources, is actually two stories in one — the casket plot, involving the choice by the suitor and his reward with Portia, and the bond plot, involving the loan and the attempt to exact a pound of flesh. Shakespeare's genius is revealed in the way he combines the two. Portia has many suitors for her hand. According to the strange conditions of her father's will, however, anyone who wishes her for his wife has to choose correctly among three caskets of silver, gold, and lead the casket that contains the message that Portia is his. In case of failure, the suitors are compelled to swear never to reveal which casket they chose and never to woo another woman. Four of her suitors, seeing they cannot win her except under the conditions of the will, depart. A fifth, a Moor, decides to take his chances. The unfortunate man chooses the golden casket, which contains a skull and a mocking message. The prince of Arragon ...