For persuasive purposes, why might it be important for an author to inspire sympathy toward one or more characters in a story?

Hich excerpt from "the cask of amontillado" best infers what will be fortunato's downfall? the gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode he had a weak point --this fortunato --although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. he prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine. "nitre," i replied. "how long have you had that cough? " "my friend, no; i will not impose upon your good nature. i perceive you have an engagement. luchresi--"

How does gatsby smile at nick? why is this important?

Read the excerpt from flannery o'connor's "the life you save may be your own although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with only her daughter and she had never seen mr. shiftlet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of. his left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly. which phrase connects these characters to the southern gothic genre? half an arm she had never seen his left coat sleeve folded up