Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention

Paragraph 1 - the tone of the speech was confident, persuasive, passionate, and urgent. The purpose of the speech was to the Virginia Convention. Some examples of antithesis is “give me liberty or give me death” (Henry p6) - parallel of liberty and death emphasizes difference and the other one is “there is no retreat but in submission and slavery.” Henry appeal the audience with Emotional appeals (pathos). Henry makes an appeal to ethos by making God seem more important than the earthly kings, as character and authority prevail over just authority. Although Patrick Henry emphasizes that he is patriotic towards Britain, he has a different view on how to handle the conflict with them. He does not immediately discredit the views of the audience but attempts to show them a different viewpoint. He references the Bible saying, "Different men often see the same subject in different lights." He uses the word "light" to show his view is aligned with God's purpose. “An act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings” Henry juxtaposes God with the earthly kings. The diction that he uses shows the authority of God over a king (King George III). The word majesty is related with splendor and quality of God. Paragraph 2 - Henry begins the second paragraph of his speech discussing the illusion of hope. Henry is trying to accomplish by saying “It is natural to man to indulge in the

Patrick Henry evolved from being an attorney to becoming an influential and inspirational revolutionary who convinced the colonists to fight for independence. During this time the British ruled and colonists had begun to resist them. Furthermore, religious values were important in the time as most everyone belonged to a church. In his speech to the Virginia convention, Patrick Henry uses pathos to enact a sense of distrust and fear toward the British.

The fight for American independence was a long, arduous struggle, but many great literary works aided the battle. One such example is Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention”. Given in 1775 at the Virginia Provincial Convention, Henry aims to convince listeners of the futility of peace with Britain, and that they should join the efforts for the inevitable war. To accomplish this, Henry uses many different persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech”, Henry uses techniques such as rhetorical questions, allusion, and emotional appeal to convey the point that the United States must rebel against Britain.

When Henry first starts his speech he first employs ethos by creating a respectful tone toward his delegates by using a litote in the very beginning in order to illustrate his respect for the delegates: “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do of opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve.” Henry uses this litote to negate the negative and make it into a positive meaning so he can effectively convey ethos since he directs that, his thoughts may differ from their own ideals but Henry uses this as a respectable tone to draw in the delegates in toward him and let them consider what he has to say. Not only that, but Henry uses religious ideals and God, to strengthen his credibility (ethos) and to persuade that the british are full of sinister intent and against god by using a metaphor and then a allusion. First he utilizes the metaphor where he compares the simle to a trap “Is that insidious simile...will it prove a snare to your feet.” This displays the unloyalty of the British toward their people. Then he uses the allusion to demonstrate that the British are wicked by comparing them to

The prominent patriot Patrick Henry once said, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7) implying that a life without liberty is not a righteous life. Henry’s quote is included in his popular oratory “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” While discussing with the colonists, Henry lists all of the discrepancies the thirteen colonies had with Great Britain, concluding that there is no other option, but to retaliate instantaneously. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” he utilizes amplifying loaded words and coherent parallelism in order to influence the assembly to unify and reciprocate.

American beliefs and opinions give a great understanding of what an American values. The want and need for freedom is described in many different ways based on origin or social beliefs. The main backbone of America today is freedom. Through the building of an American empire everyone can’t come to an understanding of what it is to be equally free. By comparing and contrasting the perspectives of Patrick Henry’s speech to the “Virginia Convention,” to take up arms and fight for our freedom. Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July,” who feels it’s time to end slavery. It is clear that the struggles of the American story are still prevalent and America has not yet found a way for freedom for all.

One language device Henry applies to his speech was developing an ethical and credible profile of himself. He this by associating himself with a divine and righteous deity. Henry says that, “...I should consider myself as guilty… of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings” (36). He acknowledges and respects God as an authority figure when mentioning God being above all. All other kings (including King George of England) are below God. This creates an ethical and credible characterization of Henry in the eyes of the audience. Since many colonists were religious, they almost certainly would pay more attention to a man who respects God. Talking about God also gives a reason to rebel. Henry states that the colonists will not fight alone and that, “There is a just God… who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us” (38). This statement implies that Henry believes God is on the side of the colonists if they fight. Asserting that God will help the colonists fight is an appeal to the ethics of the audience because Henry connects fighting to the will of God. With a Christian audience, connecting himself to Christian ideals promotes Henry’s ethical standing.

In addition, Patrick henry also uses Logical appeals (logos). “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation." "It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter." This shows logic because he talks about he saying there actions such as making petitions, they remonstrated and have done everything they can possibly but now they will use violence to get what they want. It's not fair what they have to be dealing with therefore they will now “bring the storm” that they tried to avoid, which is violence. He also does ethos by expressing how they were betrayed. ."Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss." (This is also a Biblical allusion, and as such appeals to one's emotional faith.) "Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." "There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!" "I know not what

Writing to an audience that still lacks the desire to oppose the British, Patrick Henry in his "Speech to Virginia House of Burgesses" focuses on the rights of man and defying oppressors. Through figurative language, rhetorical questions, and diction, Henry heightens the necessity to rise up and fight against the British ruling power over the colonist population in Northern America.

Patrick Henry uses diction and appeal to the authority to conjure up the people to believe in themselves to demonstrate ethos. Henry uses different vocabulary to make his speech more serious and important. Patrick Henry points out, “we have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope”(Henry 2). Everything that they are doing is making a difference, but it takes time. The word choice of “petitioned”, “interposition”, “supplicated” and “discarded” will convince the people that Henry knows what to say, to his advantage, with his skills he worked with makes him a reliable

In the beginning of his speech, Patrick Henry establishes himself as superior to previous speakers. Immediately after doing so, he stated, “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and,

In Patrick Henry’s speech, he calls to the people of the Virginia Convention through persuasion and a sense of urgency to arm themselves to fight against the English government if they do not yield to America’s commands. He expressed passion and support to fight for independence against the British. Henry used pathos, ethos, and logos effectively to convince supporters as well as opposers to unite and fight for America's right to freedom. Opening, Patrick Henry begins by defending patriots and showing respect to those who oppose his view. In order to gain trust from his audience, Henry acknowledges the opposers who see the same subject but “in different lights.”

In the “Speech at The Virginia Convention” Patrick Henry tries to persuade colonists to fight a war against the English; he does this through several main rhetorical strategies: Rhetorical Questions, Metaphors, and Parallelism. Using these are his best way to convince the colonist that they must go to war to actually be free and become their own nation. Patrick Henry shows rhetorical questions when he states “But when shall we be stronger?... Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?” (Paragraph 4).

“Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on