Holly

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**Analysis of Movie Speech ** **//A Time to Kill //****: Closing Argument ** The purpose of this speech, delivered by the character of Jake Tyler Brigance, is to actually win his case. He is an attorney for Carl Lee Haley, an African American who has been charged for murdering two racist, thugs who raped his young daughter. In this closing argument in front of the jury and court, Brigance is appealing to the jury on the basis that the eyes of the law are “humanized”. No one is seen equal because what we see is simply a reflection of our own prejudices. He concludes this final argument with a “story” about a little girl’s horrifying rape after making everyone on the jury close their eyes and envision it all. The story is that of Carl Lee Haley’s young daughter and at the end of it, Brigance asks them all to picture that little girl is white. The effect it has on the audience is so powerful that Haley is released free of charge. The audience is the court and jury. All of the appeals were used; ethos was used to explain how immoral it was that we judge others based on what we see. Logos was used to portray the evidence of the story that occurred and Brigance retold to the jury. But the most prevalent of all the appeals was pathos. The emotion Brigance used to persuade his audience was extremely powerful. He began to tear up as he connected the story to his own life and the jury’s as well. The argument proves very effective because Brigance wins his case judged by a jury who before the closing argument was not on Haley’s side. I honestly do not believe the argument could’ve been strengthened. It is one of the most effective speeches I’ve ever heard.
 * 1) 1. What is the purpose of the speech? Provide a brief statement of context.
 * 1) 2. Who is the audience?
 * 1) 3. Which appeal (ethos, pathos, logos) is most prevalent? How do you know?
 * 1) 4. Is the argument effective? Were any logical fallacies used?
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. How could the argument have been strengthened?