Patrick Henry Speech Rhetorical Devices

Words: 1048
Pages: 5
Open Document
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, a Son of Liberty and politician, in his speech entitled “Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention, invigorates support for secession from Britain and the willingness to fight for freedom. He validates secession by informing the Convention that Britain is assembling navies and armies to subjugate America, that war is coming and it cannot be ignored, and finally that no efforts of peace can succeed in halting the bloodshed. Through Henry’s use of tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools he effectively persuaded Americans to rise up against Britain.
Henry’s passionate and incendiary tone rang through America and engendered militant support for secession and war. Americans are enchanted with the …show more content…
His ethos is undeniably something martyrdom is made of as by delivering this speech Patrick Henry was guilty of sedition and would have been executed by Britain if America had not won the Revolutionary war. He admits this in his opening, “I would consider myself guilty of treason,” (1). His patriotism is indubitably proven, “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism,” (1) even in another line he uses first person pronouns while expressing his patriotism. His credibility is further displayed, “I shall speak for my sentiments freely and without reserve.” (1) in his blunt lack of fear of the disapproval of his fellow Americans in his pursuit of liberty. Patrick Henry rains down a burning hail of logic in his Logos appeal. He outlines very clearly with the simplistic logic that Britain has intentions to bring America to its knees while speaking of the “warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.” (3) and points out that America is the only potential opponent for which Britain is amassing armed forces as, “She (Britain) has none (Enemies).” (4). He furthers his arguments by not only proving to Americans that Britain is planning an incursion but displays the failures of all petitions and peace efforts by painfully describing all their short comings, “we have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne,” (4). …show more content…
Patrick Henry makes uses of figures of popular literature and mythology to spur America to revolution. He uses Judas the Betrayer’s famous treachery, “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” (3) to allude to Americans that Britain is the same as the treacherous traitor of Jesus. He summons the beguiling, deceitful image of the siren in the metaphor, “listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.” (2) to further the corrupt and evil image of Britain he has crafted. By aligning in Britain with foul things such as sirens and Judas he fuels the hatred for Britain in the hearts of Americans and by fanning the flames of such loathing he brings America that much closer to liberty and freedom from Britain’s rule. Patrick Henry accentuates his points with dark illustrations of peace composed with rhetorical tools. In order to encourage Americans to pursue the war one must make all other options unfavorable and he does such by contorting the dreams of peace, “Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!” (5) with negative connotation, tying the idea of peace with Britain to slavery and chains. He continues and strengthens this image, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” (6) by outlining peace as a deal made with the devil. Henry uses dark imagery
Show More

Related Documents: Patrick Henry Speech Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical Devices In Patrick Henry Speech

Towards the end of the eighteenth century Patrick Henry, a lawyer and politician, felt oppressed due to the lack of representation that American colonists had in British government (“Patrick Henry Biography”). Parliament and King George III passed legislation that affected the lives of colonists without their input in any part of the decision-making process (“British Reforms and Colonial Resistance”). Throughout this tension, King George III only managed to further increase the strain on the relationship…

Words 668 - Pages 3

Patrick Henry Speech In The Virginia Convention Rhetorical Devices

Patrick Henry, the author of “Speech In The Virginia Convention” supports the idea of freedom and equality for the Americans. He uses rhetorical devices to express the purpose of his speech and to make it more impacting on the audience to purposely gain their attention. Throughout the speech Henry developes a questioning-like tone to grab the crowd and make them question their own thoughts, along with his beliefs as well. Henry starts his speech off by showing respect for the audience. His purpose…

Words 446 - Pages 2

Patrick Henry Ethos In Speech To The Virginia Convention

Patrick Henry’s Speech In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” Patrick Henry persuades loyalists to fight England through several powerful main rhetorical devices; Allusion, pathos, ethos, and logos. Overall, Patrick Henry tried to influence his audience with these devices by using examples that demonstrate their effectiveness on his listeners. He uses pathos to appeal to their emotions, allusion to refer to past events and logos to give factual evidence. One of the first devices…

Words 451 - Pages 2

Summary Of Patrick Henry Speech To The Virginia Convention

Speech to the Virginia Convention The messages provided by Patrick Henry's "Speech to the Virginia convention" , he convinces the Virginia house man to declare war against the British by using main rhetorical devices such as ethos, Allusions, Imagery, and diction. In the speech Patrick Henry uses ethos to send a message so we men could form an army of our own and we could declare war against British army. The discrimination has to stop says Patrick Henry , because…

Words 495 - Pages 2

Patrick Henry's Speech In The Virginia Convention

Patrick Henry uses strong emotions and rhetorical devices to move his audience. In his speech “Speech in the Virginia Convention” delivered in 1775, he uses metaphors and rhetorical questions to create a sense of urgency to convince the members of the Virginia Convention to support war with Great Britain. Henry uses a comparison in order to make the issue more than a decision to fight or not. When he tells the members of the convention that this is an issue of “freedom or slavery”, he shifts that…

Words 363 - Pages 2

What Is The Purpose Of Patrick Henry's Speech

S: The speaker is Patrick Henry he is known for being the strongest orator of the American Revolution that contributes to his ethos. Patrick also was a political leader, serving as governor of Virginia General Assembly. O: The time Patrick Henry delivers his speech is in the year 1775 at the Virginia Convention. The current situation that gave rise to his speech was that Britain was subjuable to their lands, waters and sending military force, yet the political men attending the convention and…

Words 347 - Pages 2

Comparing House Divided And Patrick Henry

and key detail when speaking about America. Both Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” and Patrick Henry’s” Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death” speeches both focus on Freedom. Abraham Lincoln’s speech speaks on the freedom of slaves from slavery. Patrick Henry's speech speaks about the freedom of American colonies from the British government. After an examination of both speeches, I believe that Patrick Henry’s speech ”Give me Liberty, or Give Me Death” was more effective…

Words 234 - Pages 1

Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

One of the founding fathers of America is Patrick Henry who is known for his speeches. On March 23, 1775 in Virginia he gave a speech called “Speech in the Virginia Convention”. The speech was very patriotic. It was to change the minds of the soldiers and persuade them to go to war. Nowadays people can read the speech and be mad enough to go to war right then so that goes to show you it was a very fervid speech. Patrick Henry brings up ethos which is dealing with ethics and pathos dealing with…

Words 285 - Pages 2

America's Most Influential Speech Analysis

The Common Purpose Between America's Most Influential Speeches The famous speeches written by Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine have influenced our country for centuries. Ever since they were made, we have been motivated time after time, especially during the Revolutionary War. If not for these influential speeches, we may not be where we are today. We may still be under the control of Great Britain. These two writers, similar, yet different, both write with a common purpose that most do not really…

Words 834 - Pages 4

What Are The Rhetorical Devices Used In Patrick Henry's Speech

In the “speech the Virginia convention” (1775), Patrick Henry convinced colonists to fight against Britain by using four rhetorical devices which were allusion, imagery, one –word sentences and rhetorical questions. These four devices helped Patrick Henry convinced many people that were still not willing to go to war. One device that he used was allusion which helped him connect with the listeners. “Listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beast.” ( line ). This connects with…

Words 316 - Pages 2