Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

At the Virginia Convention in 1775, Patrick Henry delivered a speech to the president and the delegates at the convention expressing his opinion on the colonies relationship with Great Britain. Henry’s purpose when delivering this speech was to persuade the men at the convention to go to war with Great Britain in order to gain independence from them, which will ultimately allow the colonists to gain more freedom. Patrick Henry uses metaphors and rhetorical questions in his speech to the Virginia Convention in order to persuade the president and delegates to rebel against and go to war with Great Britain. Patrick Henry uses metaphors as literary devices in order to inform his audience of the problems with Great Britain and in order to attempt

Would America be the same country if it was not for some of our founding fathers and their contributions? If you take Patrick Henry out of the equation, the answer could very well be, ‘Yes’. Patrick Henry played a very prominent role in the success of America’s independence. Along with Thomas Jefferson and Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry helped create the Virginia House of Burgesses to resolve the tumultuous state of the colonies. In the early spring of 1775, Patrick Henry met with members of the second Virginia Convention to discuss the need for a military mobilization against the British. Henry spoke to fellow citizens of Virginia in Richmond at what is now St. John’s Church. He spoke with intimacy, fervor, passion, and showed an undeniable support to fight against the English government. His use of ethos, pathos, and logos effectively persuaded opponents and supporters of the Revolution to unite and fight British tyranny for American independence.

Pathos was the driving force behind Henry’s speech due to his analogies of imperialism, and his use of fear relating to chauvinism. Patrick Henry had to persuade the colonists so they wouldn’t betray themselves with the misapprehension of hope. Henry’s concepts of imperialism was used to convey possible abject futures that would furor reality into the colonists. The comparison is seen when Henry states, “Shall we

In paragraph one of the speech, in spite of the face that Patrick Henry stress that he is patriotic towards Britain, he has an alternate perspective on the most proficient method to handle the conflicts with them.He does not promptly rion the perspectives of the group of delegates, however he attempts to show them an alternate perspective. Henry states, “...different men often see the same subject in different lights…” Henry uses the term “light” to express how his views are similar of to

Throughout his speech, Patrick Henry uses logic and presents information so the colonists cannot argue with data that can easily be proven true. At the beginning, Henry presents the fact that Britain responded to America’s petitions in a hostile way. “Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our lands” (Henry 102). In other words, when Britain was given the Americans’ petition, they retaliated by sending their

In addition to rhetorical questioning, Henry also uses allusion to assert his opinions. For example, while speaking of how man naturally believes in hope, he references Homer’s Odyssey by saying, “We are apt to listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts”

Instead of having them question something, he bashes them with fear of being damned to hell, and practically forces his own views on his congregation. Henry uses an exact opposite approach. He asks his listeners many rhetorical questions, such as “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?” and “Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?” Through this, Henry is able to get his listeners to see his side of the situation, and is able to persuade their views on Britain.

In this case Henry is asking the colonists to ask themselves what they want, and if they would want to live life at the expense of their freedom. He’s trying to get the colonists to understand the difference between liberty and freedom. Liberty is fought for and is a cause for freedom. Liberty also, is being allowed to do something. Freedom is to be rid of being under the control of something or something. We are free to speak, bear arms and to choose our religion, as a result of the Bill of Rights that was later written. The principles and rights listed in the Bill of Rights were ideas that Henry was trying to get the colonists to fight for. Henry is able to effectively cause the colonists take into account that he is asking the colonists to fight for freedom from the British monarchy and government. Another example would be in the second paragraph of his speech. “Is this the part of the wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” (Henry 102). Here Henry is asking if the colonists are willing to fight in a possibly long and difficult battle for their worldly freedom from a higher authority. He wants the colonists to think about their actions and if they are going to stand to the side and let the British government take away their rights. In this way he is able to get

As Henry begins his speech he addressed the opposition with due respect, “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen.” By acknowledging the citizens with different viewpoints, Henry creates a connection with the colonists. He sees that he must show empathy and understanding in order to give the opposing side a chance to actually hear what he has to say. It goes without saying that Henry knows his

For example, in the speech, he said he “shall speak fourth […] without reserve” because he was trying to give his full opinion without being interrupted. Towards the end of the speech, Henry said that “the war is inevitable” because he believed that since they have been targeted, he thought that it was a must that they fight back. He believed that the “war [has] actually begun” since they have been targeted for “ten years now”. So with that being said, he asked a rhetorical question stating “why stand we here idle?” because it basically means that they have allowed them to step all over them while they just stood there doing nothing about it. He tried to get them to understand that they need to fight back so that’s why he said “let it come” loud and clear. When he said “peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery”, that was a very strong choice of words. It interprets the fact of slavery because slavery doesn’t cause any type of happiness or freedom. That’s why he tried to fight for what he wanted in this case, its

Henry stated, “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights (Henry).” Henry recognizes the evident differences in beliefs that the colonist has. Henry goes on in his speech to say, “The question before House is one of awful moment to this country, and I consider is as nothing less than question of freedom or slavery (Henry).” Henry determines the colonists must make an ultimate decision. By utilizing the words ‘slavery’ and ‘freedom’, he created a hope for the colonist to hold onto and to create fear in the colonies. Henry appeals to the colonist’s religion because it was relevant to the revolutionary cause. Henry stated, “Should I keep back my opinions at a such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and an act of disability toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings (Henry).” Henry denounced the King when he stated Majesty of Heaven. Doing this, he informs the colonists that God was on their side. By associating God with the war, Henry utilized the use of pathos and ethos. Patrick Henry’s speech refutes his opponent’s beliefs that there was no need for battle with the British. Henry stated, “It is natural to man to indulge in the

Henry strikes anger into the colonists by saying their demands have been met with an “insidious smile.” This is another place where Henry uses Britain's deceptions against them. He refers to the British as a “snare to your feet” to integrate into the minds of the colonists that the British will entrap them. He uses many rhetorical questions in his speech and two in particular in the third paragraph that appeals to the pathos of the audience. “ Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?

In Patrick Henry 's speech he is addressing the Second Virginia Convention, Henry is trying to convince the colonists that they should be preparing for war if Britain does not meet the colonists demands. Although he emphasizes that he is patriotic towards Britain, he has a different view on how to handle the conflict. Patrick does not immediately discredit the audience but tries to show them a different viewpoint. He references the bible saying, "different men often see the same subject in different lights" (Henry). He then builds his ethos by expressing his religious passion. Henry states "I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery" (Henry), he uses 'it ' to tell the

To continue, the speech delivered on March 23rd, 1775, at The Second Virginia Convention. Uses a metaphorical comparison in it, especially when the author says, “ I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.” In this part of the text, Henry compares his experiences with a lamp, and that with that lamp he will be able to guide himself in the future. Henry’s ethos, or the moral nature of someone is strongly built up when he said this. Since it characterizes him as a very moral, and noble person.

Finally, what I consider the most powerful technique Henry uses is the fallacy of appealing to emotion. Henry talks about various actions that the colonists have already taken to protest the English government, such as, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated…” By doing so, the audience is reminded of all these things that have been done, only to realize that they have failed. Henry “reveals” that the English government has only denied them and turned them down each time. “Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned…” This quote builds up anger in the audience, creating great contempt for the British. The colonists start to feel as though the British have no intention to care about them and will take advantage of Americans every chance they get.