A Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech

Patrick Henry was not that unlike most of the respected statesmen who attended the March 23rd, 1775, meeting at Virginia's House of Burgesses. However, when he delivered his famous speech now dubbed, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” he could be considered almost treasonous to the British king. Yet, Patrick Henry proved himself to be a most respectable patriot, and an incredible orator when addressing that group of highly influential colonial leaders while forging the future of a brand new nation. Henry knew his audience, and played on there deep biblical backgrounds to convince those in attendance that his outrageous call for revolt, could not be argued. Patrick Henry's role as a spokesman for the struggle for liberty and justice from the …show more content…
Cohen, in his 1981 article published in “The William and Mary Quarterly,” entitled The “Liberty or Death” Speech: A Note on Religion and Revolutionary Rhetoric, those in the audience, that heard the famous oration made by Patrick Henry, exclaimed, “Right here I wish to be buried,” and even those commenting feeling “sick with excitement.” (Cohen 702) Thomas Jefferson, in attendance that day, is quoted as having uttered, “Although it was difficult, when [Henry] had spoken, to tell what he had said, yet, while speaking, it always seemed directly to the point. When he had spoken in opposition to my opinion, had produced a great effect, and I myself had been highly delighted and moved, I have asked myself, when he ceased, ‘What the devil has he said?’ and could never answer the inquiry.” (Cohen 713) With amazing impact, Patrick Henry was able to evoke complete agreement from his audience, the Virginia House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775. (Cohen 702.) As quoted by Cohen, William Wirt, in his 1817 book entitled “Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry,” described those who heard Henry’s speeches, simply admitted that they “can only tell you, in general, that they were taken captive.” (Cohen 714) Cohen continues that Wirt, a contemporary of Henry, who had done extensive research on Henry’s rhetorical impact, had found that even court stenographers, who were commissioned to record Patrick Henry’s remarks during court proceedings in which …show more content…
Some critics believe his mastery of rhetoric was tied to his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and his careful use of them in reaching his audience. Patrick Henry was born on May 29,1736, in Hanover County, Virginia, to parents John Henry and Sarah Winston Syme. (landofthebrave.info XXX) According to Cohen, Henry had early religious influences, within his family, with a very religious father, a mother who converted to Christianity during the Great Awakening, and a close uncle who provided Henry’s religious education. (Cohen 712) But Henry’s greatest religious impact was received during his teenage years when he attended various revival meetings by such influential preachers such as George Whitefield and Samuel Davis. (Cohen 712) According to ushistory.org, Patrick Henry was not alone in his fervent religious convictions, as by the 1730’s, “a religious revival swept through the British American colonies.” Ministers such as Jonathan Edwards and, John Wesley, as well as Whitefield and Davies, had created a religious revolution that may have served to unite the individual colonies. “It was the first major event that all of the colonies could share, helping to break down differences between them.” (ushistory.org) The author mentions that absence of such a religious revival in England created a stark contrast with the colonists, and may have aided the colonies in seeing themselves in a new light. With fervent

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A Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech

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