Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech By Patrick Henry

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Pages: 4
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YoriAdagunodo
Mrs. Catherine Shipp
Honors English 9
17 February 2017
Rhetorical Analysis: Patrick Henry's “Speech to the Virginia Convention”
Patrick Henry effectively convinces his audience to challenge England in war for their independence by employing rhetorical questions to diffuse ideas of compromise, parallelism to display King George’s rejection of the colonies’ aspirations, and allusions illustrating the right of the House to safeguard America; however, some representatives of the House may be a bit reluctant to fight because of the way Henry depreciates the complexity of the topic to freedom and slavery.
Henry opens his speech by revealing King George’s objection to the demands of the colonists through his use of parallelism. The …show more content…
This shows that a deadly struggle for liberty is approaching. The delegates must be prepared if they wish to reap the fruits they so desire.Slowly, the British are turning America into undesirable living grounds, causing them to become frustrated and irritated with their current situation. Eventually, Henry states that the colonists suffering is not coming to an end.He tells his audience that nothing has come about their diplomatic advances of gaining their goal: “Our petition have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded” (Henry 84). Henry emphasizes the urgency of war between America and the British. His usage of parallelism builds a climax of annoyance and dissatisfaction within the members of the House. He uses their anger to effectively convey his logics and reasonability behind initiating war. Great Britain is blocking the colonist’s dreams and many of the delegates are outraged. They have been pleading for their rights for ten years and it seems that England is ignorant of them. Incidentally, Henry tells his delegates that war is necessary to keep …show more content…
Henry begins by telling the House that they are leading their opinions on false hope given by the British. He alludes “listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts” (Henry 83) to the women of the sea, who lure men to their destruction using their voices. He makes this allusion to help his audience understand that theBritish are building a wall of façade and that their true intentions have nothing to do with fulfilling the Americanpleas. Similarly, Henry introduces England’s oncoming betrayal by asking the delegates a question about deception. Should the delegates let a sneaky smile on the face of an evil man fool them? “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” (Henry 83) is an allusion to when Judas was told by the Romans to identify Jesus by marking him with a kiss. Henry uses this statement to appeal to their sense of religion, byrevealing to coloniststo not be deceived by King George’s empty promises because they will only come back to hurt those who trust him.Henry also alludes this statement to their current situation. Finally, Henry expresses that the colonists may not retire to their homes and escape reality but rather prepare for bloodshed: “Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.” (Henry 84-85). Henry tells his audience
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