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What rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos, logos) are used in the dialogue between Haemon and Creon about freeing Antigone?
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In the dialogue between Haemon and Creon about freeing Antigone, all three rhetorical devices—ethos, pathos, and logos—are employed. Haemon uses logos by presenting logical arguments and analogies, ethos by referencing his role as Creon's son and the beliefs of Theban citizens, and pathos by expressing intense emotions and threatening suicide. Creon also uses ethos by asserting his authority and logos by emphasizing order and individual authority.
Haemon is a skilled rhetorician, weaving the three persuasive appeals—logos, ethos, and pathos—into his plea for Antigone's life. Haemon begins with a logos appeal—an appeal to reason. After some initial flattery, he begins by pointing out that the gods have given men the ability to reason and learn wisdom. The fact that men must learn wisdom means they are not born with full understanding. Therefore, they must change their position as they gain further understanding. Haemon provides new information—new data—that his father doesn't know in order to help him come to a new conclusion. That information involves what the people in the street are saying about Antigone—things they won't say to Creon's face because he is king. Haemon concludes this logical argument with two analogies of beneficial change: trees that bend in the wind and ships that must adjust their sails to avoid sinking.
Next Haemon uses...
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an appeal to ethos, or authority. He brings up the "Theban folk" again as unanimously believing Antigone is not an evildoer. Next he appeals to the gods, saying that he is pleading for their honor as much as for Creon's.
Haemon has previously sprinkled pathos into his argument by flattering Creon and keeping his tone respectful at first. When his father will not listen despite appeals to reason and authority, Haemon launches into a hot pathos appeal. He threatens to commit suicide and openly insults his father. This is not the most skillful use of emotional appeal, perhaps, but Haemon isn't bluffing.
Haemon pulls out all the stops when he tries to convince his father to spare his bride-to-be, but Creon is beyond reach of rhetoric at this point. Haemon's appeals to reason, authority, and emotion fall on deaf ears.
This is a great question. The longest speech that Haemon offers to Creon is found in the lines 765-810. The content and form of this speech is masterful.
It is filled with tact and wisdom. Here are some of the rhetorical points.
It starts off with a logical point. It praises man for his ability to reason and come to rational conclusions. I suspect Haemon starts this way to show that his father's decisions are not rational at this point. In addition, he offers a perspective on what the people of the town are saying. In other words, he is giving the collective wisdom of the town. In short, Antigone does not deserve death; rather she deserve a crown for her piety and faithfulness to her dead brother.
The speech is also filled with pathos as he paints a picture of Antigone's deceased brother dead in the streets, left for the dogs. No one deserves this horrible end. An honorable burial is what is proper.
Finally, he appeals to his father to change and embrace a course of wisdom. He also confesses his loyalty to his father.