Analysis of Rhetoric: Ethos, Pathos, Logos in 'Perfect Picture'

This essay provides a detailed analysis of James Alexander Thom's "The Perfect Picture," focusing on the author's effective use of rhetorical devices to engage and persuade readers. The essay highlights how Thom employs logos by establishing a credible timeline and setting, using vivid descriptions to create a believable narrative. The first-person perspective enhances the reader's connection to the narrator's experiences, while strong visual and auditory imagery establishes pathos and ethos, respectively. The analysis emphasizes how Thom's storytelling stirs emotions and prompts reflection on the morality of journalistic practices, ultimately leading readers to empathize with the narrator's decision not to capture the photograph, reinforcing the story's profound impact. Desklib offers a platform to explore similar essays and academic resources for students.

Running Head: ENGLISH 1
The perfect picture
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction

EDUCATION 2
"The Perfect Picture" was written in 1976 by James Alexander Thom. The story is based
on an event from his past when there was an accident of a man killing a child (Thom, 1976). The
narrative essay describes how he rushed to the place like many other reporters. As he gets inside
the house to click a picture of the crime scene, what he comes across is a “The Perfect Picture.”
What makes a simple story great is the clever use of rhetoric in the story telling (Walter, 2018).
The essay shows how the narrator uses the rhetorical appeals in the story to convince and move
his readers.
Mr. Thom utilizes logo to establish logos and add credibility to his story. He writes” It
was early in the spring about 15 years ago” (Thom 1). By stating the time span, he persuades his
readers to believe in his story and that the event actually took place. He even describes the day
with “pale sunlight” and trees that were just “beginning to bud.” He describes himself as a young
police reporter who is driving to an accident scene. He even describes the big, bulky camera
with a speed Graphic and how it was a newspaper reporter's trademark. All those aspects
persuade the readers and to believe in the story.
The author uses the first person to make the reader well connected to what he feels and
make him understand what he is going through. Getting the first-person point means that the
readers can visualize and follow what he is going through. He makes strong visual images to
create a rhetoric appeal. The reader observes with the narrator and as close as he does. For
example, when Mr. Thom offers a more detailed picture or opinion of the scene, the reader can
visualize the incident as if he is very much there. When Mr. Thom writes “grandfather slowly
leaned forward, curved his arms like parentheses around the head and feet of the little form, then
pressed his face to shroud and remained motionless” (Thom 2). The narrator successfully

EDUCATION 3
establishes a pathos with his readers by making them connect to the scene personal and evoking
emotions within them.
Ethos can be seen in the story with the use of auditory images by the author. Mr. Thom
tries to create an atmosphere for each scene with the help of auditory images to make it more
convincing for the audience. He writes” and “the clock ticked” or. “The house was very quiet”.
The reader can actually hear the clock ticking in the quiet and sad atmosphere of the house. The
auditory images are useful here as they help to convince the readers, by setting a certain mood.
The closing statement of the story, “I still feel right about what I did” sums it all. Mr.
Thom stirs the emotions of his viewers and makes them agree to him that what he did was right.
The picture was indeed perfect because of its value of compelling story-telling. Although his
professional conscience told him to click the picture, Mr. Thom could not as he was suddenly
doubtful about his journalistic profession. He knew he could capture that extreme condition of
grief and despair in his camera, but could not do so as he did not want it to be used as a spectator
sport. By his action, the narrator stirs the conscience of his readers and forces them to think
about the morality of his profession and the innocence in the unfortunate accident.

EDUCATION 4
References
Thom. J.A. (1976). The Perfect Picture. learning.hccs, 1(1), 1–2.
Walter, D. (2018). The Rhetoric of Story, damiengwalter Retrieved from
https://damiengwalter.teachable.com/p/rhetoric-of-story