Examples Of Speech In The Virginia Convention By Patrick Henry

In Patrick Henry’s speech to the Second Virginia Convention, he attempts to convince the delegates that it is that it is time to take a stand against the British rule in the colonies. He enforces the thought of fighting against one of the strongest countries at that time in order to gain their freedom from the torturous tariffs that the British have been placing on them.

In “The Speech to the Virginia Convention”, Patrick Henry addresses the colonists’ submissiveness towards Great Britain. He utilizes passionate diction, syntax, and figurative language to implore the delegates that it is time for America to fight for its freedom. To commence, Patrick Henry incorporates a biblical reference into his speech which juxtaposes the American, British conflict with the Bible. Henry implemented the verse “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss” (para.3) that entails when Judas gave Jesus a kiss even though he was betraying him behind his back.

“ We are not weak if we make a proper use at those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power the battle sir is not the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active and the brave “ ( Henry ) . Patrick henry was an American Attorney and he felt like he should voice his opinion about the British. The colonists were in a tough spot with the British taxing the colonies after the War. In Patrick Henry’s “ Speech to the Virginia Convention “, the most effective technique Henry uses is pathos which persuaded the colonists to arm against the British because they wanted freedom. Patrick Henry felt like if we sat around doing nothing the British will overrule the colonists. Henry uses pathos to show

In Patrick Henry's,” Speech in the Virginia Convention”, Henry argues that the Virginia colony should fight against Great Britain. One, reason he States this is because Britain has been sending multitudes of fleets to America, Britain did this trying to establish a firmer foundation in America. For instance, it says in the speech, ”Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?”, this is found on page (102). This point in Henry's argument shows how England is not willing to talk anymore, and how England is willing to use force to try and contain America. Secondly, would be Henry brings up the point of America trying to negotiate and discuss the situation with England, but England continuously turns down the negotiation.

Patrick Henry used many examples of pathos in his declamation “Speech to Virginia Convention” to persuade people to oppose England by getting on a personal and emotional level. Pathos was used throughout this piece so it would have a strong impact, inciting intense positive or negative reactions from his audience. Patrick Henry states, “Is it that insidious smile

In “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, he used allusions to contribute to the meaning of his purpose. Patrick Henry wrote this speech right before the American Revolution took place. His purpose was to persuade the Virginia Convention leaders that it was time to declare war against Great Britain. To prove his point that the time for rebellion had come, he used allusions, which are indirect references to historical people, events, or documents. One of the allusions Patrick Henry used was in lines 18-22 and referenced The Odyssey by Homer.

In his speech to the Second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry with a use of antithesis, talking about the rising tensions between the Colonists and Britain before the American Revolution. He says what is essentially "freedom or death." It shows how willing he is to die fighting for the colonies' freedoms, in an attempt to persuade those listening to take action as well.

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.

In order for men to go to war, it takes a certain level of persuasion. Delivered in 1775, Patrick Henry’s most memorable speech to the Virginia Convention, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” indicates the intensive uses of rhetorical devices and strategies that appeal to every man as a powerful rhyme of patriotism. As a respected lawyer and a patriot, Patrick Henry argues for America’s independent from Great Britain along with urges for his fellow Americans to form a pack and prepare for a war of freedom. Throughout his arguments, Henry is able to draw his audience’s attentions successfully with the clever used of rhetorical devices. He persuades them by applying pathos, ethos, and logos in his work to express

“I am not a Virginian. But I am an American!” (Henry 104). Besides being an American, Patrick Henry was a representative for Virginia during 1775 and attended the Virginia Convention. At this time Britain and the colonies were at the brink of war. Britain controlled the colonists from taxing them on unreasonable products, such as paper and sugar, to sending troops and armies to the colonies for no reason. The colonists tried to avoid war with Britain, they had written out “requests” hoping this document would help the countries come together to a peaceful agreement. Patrick Henry uses pathos in his “Speech to Virginia Convention” to persuade fellow delegates to form a militia and rebel against the British. While giving his speech, Henry had

In the Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry, the author uses multiple literary devices and a unifying tone to support his claim for the Americans to go against British oppression and to

In Patrick Henry’s speech to the Virginian delegates in 1775, he persuades the assembly to fight Great Britain for their independence using the repetition of the word ‘hope’, powerful rhetorical questions and the horrifying images of slavery. Henry uses these rhetorical devices to inspire and convince his audience to take action against Great Britain. Henry repeats the word ‘hope’ at key points in his speech in order to prove that hope is a false illusion and that the colonists need to fight back against Great Britain or their situation will never improve. In line 15, Henry begins by saying that “it is natural for a man to indulge in the illusions of hope.”

Pathos or, playing on the emotions of the leaders of colonial America, is another tactic Henry draws on to convince them that revolution is essential. He uses the patriotism and pride of the colonial leaders to make them see how the British crown is taking away their natural rights as human beings. He states that outsiders say the colonies are “weak” because they would be “unable to cope with Britain as their adversary.” The leaders of the colonies are not used to being called weak, because they are of the upper classes of the Americas. Therefore this would ignite them to revolution, because the British would be against them, they who had dared question the strength of the members of the colonial Americas. Also, this statement of colonial American weakness would make the members of the House feel slighted because they have been working towards strengthening the Americas and saying they are weak is saying they are failing as leaders of the colonies. Further more, Patrick Henry continues to excite the emotions of the House of Burgesses, stating that

In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, his American dream is that the citizens of America should not be opposed by any oppressive leaders. He truly believes the people of America must fight for their freedom in order to achieve their own kind of American dream.

In the “Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, there is an abundance of persuasive arguments that are employed to try and push the American politicians to fight the British control over the colonies. The rhetorical strategies used are ethos, pathos, and logos, and this helps further the development of his argument for fighting against the British rule over the colonies.