Aristotelian Rhetoric: Problem Solving and Professionalism in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
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Date
2023
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Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü
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Abstract
Klasik Yunan edebiyatındaki başlangıcından beri, Retorik mesleki ve edebi
hayatın esaslı yönlerinden biri olmuştur ve batı üniversitelerinde özellikle de hukuk
fakültelerinde sıklıkla öğretilegelmiştir. Bununla birlikte, hukuğu ya da belagati
okulda ya da akademide öğrenmek bunları günlük hayatta uygulamakla aynı değildir.
Eski bir hukuk öğrencisi ve bir avukatın kızı olarak Harper Lee okuyucusuna bir
avukatın çocuklarına, topluma, müvekkillerine ve mahkemeye olan görevleri
arasındaki gerilimleri gidermek için bir rol model sağlıyor. To Kill a Mockingbird’de
(1960) Lee’nin Atticus Finch’i Retorik’te açıklanan Aristoteles üçlüsünü kullanıyor:
karakter, duygular ve mantık. Atticus iyi bir karaktere ve insan doğasına yönelik bir
anlayışa sahip. İkna için gerekli olan sağduyuya, erdeme ve iyi niyete sahip ve aynı
zamanda karakterinin iyi yönlerini ifade etme yeteneği var. Dinleyicilerinin
duygularını ölçülü bir şekilde, yani yapaylıktan uzak durarak harekete geçiriyor.
Gerçekleri kanıtlamak için mantıklı savlara da başvuruyor. Tümevarımı (örnek),
tasımı (hitabette kısaltılmış tasım) ve çapraz sorgulamayı kullanması onun, özellikle
de mahkemede, mantıklı savlarını inşa ediyor. Irkından dolayı Maycomb kasabası
tarafından sevilmeyen bir siyahi olan Tom Robinson’u savunmak zorunda kalan
Atticus, insanın farklı görevlerdeki rollerini yerine getirmede hitabet sanatını nasıl kullanacağını gösteriyor ve okuyucuya bir avukatın birbirine aykırı düşen rollerini ve
görevlerini uzlaştırmada Retorik’in uygulamasını sunuyor. Bu bağlamda bu çalışma
Lee’nin Atticus Finch’inin yalnızca Aristoteles’in üç sanatsal ikna biçiminin
uygulanışını göstermediğini, aynı zamanda bunları kullanarak bir avukatın
çocuklarının ve toplumun menfaati için ve hala mahkemeye ve müvekkillerinin
haklarına saygı göstererek ahlaklı olmanın ve adaletin yanında yer almanın olası
yollarına işaret ettiğini tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır.
Since its inception in classical Greek literature, Rhetoric has become an essential aspect of professional and literary life and has been commonly taught at western universities, especally in law faculties. However, learning law and oratory at school or academy is not the same as practicing them in daily life. Harper Lee, as an ex-law student and the daughter of a lawyer provides her reader with a role model for solving the tensions among an attorney’s duties to his or her children, to the society, to his or her clients and to the court. Lee’s Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) uses Aristotalian triad explained in his Rhetoric: ethos, pathos and logos. He has a good character and an understanding of human nature. He has the wisdom, virtue and goodwill required for persuasion and at the same time has the ability to express the good qualities of his character. He stirs his audiences’ emotions in a moderate way, which means by avoiding artificiality. He also employs logical argument to prove the facts. His use of induction (example), syllogism (enthymeme) and cross-examination structures his logical argument especially in court. Having had to defend an innocent a black man, Tom Robinson -who is unfavoured by Maycomb county because of his race- Atticus shows how to use the art of rhetoric in performing one’s duties in different roles and presents the reader an application of Rhetoric to reconcile an attorney’s conflicting roles and duties. In this context this paper attempts to discuss that Lee’s Atticus Finch not only shows the application of Aristotle’s three artful modes of persuasion but by using them, he also points to the possible means of being moral and standing by justice for the sake of an attorney’s children and the society while still showing respect to the court and to the rights of his or her clients.
Since its inception in classical Greek literature, Rhetoric has become an essential aspect of professional and literary life and has been commonly taught at western universities, especally in law faculties. However, learning law and oratory at school or academy is not the same as practicing them in daily life. Harper Lee, as an ex-law student and the daughter of a lawyer provides her reader with a role model for solving the tensions among an attorney’s duties to his or her children, to the society, to his or her clients and to the court. Lee’s Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) uses Aristotalian triad explained in his Rhetoric: ethos, pathos and logos. He has a good character and an understanding of human nature. He has the wisdom, virtue and goodwill required for persuasion and at the same time has the ability to express the good qualities of his character. He stirs his audiences’ emotions in a moderate way, which means by avoiding artificiality. He also employs logical argument to prove the facts. His use of induction (example), syllogism (enthymeme) and cross-examination structures his logical argument especially in court. Having had to defend an innocent a black man, Tom Robinson -who is unfavoured by Maycomb county because of his race- Atticus shows how to use the art of rhetoric in performing one’s duties in different roles and presents the reader an application of Rhetoric to reconcile an attorney’s conflicting roles and duties. In this context this paper attempts to discuss that Lee’s Atticus Finch not only shows the application of Aristotle’s three artful modes of persuasion but by using them, he also points to the possible means of being moral and standing by justice for the sake of an attorney’s children and the society while still showing respect to the court and to the rights of his or her clients.
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Keywords
Avukat, Çatışma, Rol, Model, Görev, Aristoteles, Bülbül’ü Öldürmek, Retorik, Belagat, Yasal, Etik, Temsilci, Müvekkil, Mahkeme, Toplum, Adalet, Profesyonellik, Lawyer, Conflict, Role, Duty, Aristotle, To Kill a Mockingbird, Rhetoric, Oratory, Legal, Ethics, Representative, Client, Court, Society, Justice
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Gündüz, S., (2023). Aristotelian Rhetoric: Problem Solving and Professionalism in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.
(Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Selçuk Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Konya.
