What is an author doing when he or she uses ethos?

The author is persuading the public through his character.

Explanation:

Ethos refers to the characteristics of the speaker that can influence the persuasion process, such as his authority, honesty and credibility in relation to the topic under consideration. The speaker's ability to dialogue and his presentation are also included in the skills that may lead to persuasion.

The ethos is the public's perception of its authority and good morals. Translating to our world: It's not enough to be good, you need to look good.

it's like watching a fable, it's not really about the animals but rather it has a meaning that is understood by us and that is implicit, not explicitly said. implicit ideas are common and are used in almost all works of art, from writing to painting to sculpting.