Final answer:
Martin's characterization, as shown by his compassion for slaveholders, could indeed create empathy among readers, illustrating the noble qualities of his character that can evoke emotional responses. Ethos, pathos, and logos are also mentioned in relation to another character, Desmond, showing how these persuasive methods can be applied to induce empathy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding Martin's characterization in the elevator seems to be seeking an analysis of a literary character's ability to invoke empathy in readers. The provided context suggests that Martin's compassionate stance towards slaveholders could indeed create empathy among the readers. This is because his capacity to feel compassion for those who have mistreated him portrays a magnanimous character that can resonate with audiences and invoke an emotional response, potentially leading to a revelation about the complexity of human relationships and the nature of forgiveness. Therefore, in response to the student's dilemma, it may be argued that, yes, the characterization does create empathy for Martin. However, without more context about the entire narrative and other examples of Martin's behavior, this conclusion may be subject to further analysis. The passage also introduces the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos, which are methods of persuasion that could relate to creating empathy, by providing examples of how Desmond uses these strategies in a separate narrative about housing injustice.