Why does Henry David Thoreau use ethos in "Resistance to Civil Government"?
A.
To establish his credibility as someone who has disobeyed laws he doesn't agree with
B.
To allow his audience to experience how it would feel to be unjustly accused
C.
To get an emotional reaction from his audience about how unjust the government is
D.
To clearly lay out the reasons why he believes the government is ineffective
A. To establish his credibility as someone who has disobeyed laws he doesn't agree with
A. To establish his credibility as someone who has disobeyed laws he doesn't agree with
The answer is A. To establish his credibility as someone who has disobeyed laws he doesn't agree with.
Ethos is an appeal to the authority and credibility of the speaker or writer. In "Resistance to Civil Government," also known as "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau uses ethos to establish his credibility by sharing his personal experiences of disobeying laws he believes to be unjust. Thoreau specifically discusses his refusal to pay taxes in protest of slavery and the Mexican-American War. By exposing his own actions, Thoreau presents himself as an authority on civil disobedience and positions himself as someone who has first-hand knowledge of the need to resist unjust laws. This use of ethos helps Thoreau strengthen his argument and persuade his audience that they should also question and resist unjust laws.