Character Analysis Of Thomas Paine's Characterization Of America

The American Revolution was not only one of the most significant events in American history, but also ignited the minds of many journalists and writers, such as Thomas Paine. Paine began his career as a journalist in 1776 with the well known pamphlet "Common Sense". By the end of this year, he was enlisted in the American army and had begun to write a series of essays, entitled "The American Crisis". At the time these were written, morale was low in the army, and the soldiers were suffering many hardships. So, George Washington ordered that Paine's essay was to be read in front of the troops to inspire them to keep fighting. He sparked a revolutionary spirit amongst the soldiers by using different methods of persuasion. In this excerpt from "The American Crisis, Number 1", Paine used metaphors to provoke feelings of anger and indignation, imagery to inspire his audience, and logic to blatantly show the contrast between mercy and disdain.

Thomas Paine’s characterization of America in his book Rights of Man describes American society which is different from today. While he effectively captured the diversity of America, he failed to describe how diversity separates citizens rather than bringing unity between them all.

In 1791, Thomas Paine wrote the book Rights of Man, in which he expresses his thoughts on the unity of the American people. Walter Russell, however, claims America "has always been a division of man. There has always been the conqueror and conquered - the master and the slave - the ruler and the ruled - the oppressor and the oppressed. There has never been content nor unity. There has been only discontent and disunity". While in the United States there are people similar to Paine who strive for freedom and diversity, there are also those, as Walter Russell illustrates, who promote racism, violence, and disunity. Thomas Paine's viewpoint is mostly inaccurate because while there are times of peace, justice, and concord, there are far greater instances of oppression, privilege, and riots in America.

What would influence you to fight for American Independence? Would your family's’ views, your friend’s views, or the views of a political pamphlet influence you? In the beginning of the American Revolution, a man by the name of Thomas Paine wrote a political pamphlet that would influence many Americans to fight for independence from Britain. Thomas Pain used several ideas that include government is a necessary evil, America will eventually be independent, Britain will always oppress the American Colonies to influence the American People, and the importance of allies.

Thomas Paine’s characterization of America from his book, Rights of Man, does not completely hold true in today’s American society. His description of social class relationships as well as just government is currently not a reality for Americans. However, his description of diversity is something that we do have in America today.

Thomas Paine arrived in America for the first time in 1774. He was impressed by the colonies and soon became an advocate for their rights in the slowly increasing tensions with Britain. Paine’s belief in the rights of independence not just for white Americans, but for all men, was made clear

All over the world, people hear about and strive to live the “American Dream.” In 1791 Thomas Paine, an intellectual revolutionary, believed that America was a diverse country that was accommodating for its people. In his book “Rights of Man” he says that in America “the poor are not oppressed, the rich are not privileged… and their taxes are few.” None of these ideals are completely true in America today.

Thomas Paine claims in Common Sense that the people living in America do not need to tolerate the oppression from their British overlords. His main purpose for writing this pamphlet was to expose the injustice of the British towards the Americans and to persuade those who still believed that the British were either needed or were beneficial for the Americans in 1776. Paine values the idea that the Americans need to revolt against their evil ,oppressive, monarchical rulers in Britain and to establish pure democracy in the Thirteen Colonies. Paine writes from the perspective of an equal to his fellow American man, thus making him relatable from common folk to the wealthy merchants and upper classes. Paine shows the British tyranny over America as horrific and he wishes to expose British faults and impurities to inspire the colonists

Making people understand a serious situation like America’s independence is not easy, but Thomas Paine was able to do so through his book, Common Sense. Thomas Paine was able to communicate his ideas to common simple farmers and to the high class intellectuals very easily. He lived at the time of the American Revolution, and Common Sense is one of his main publications that urged Americas’ independence from the British. Born in 1937, Thomas Paine was originally an English man to his father, and he holds radical views on religion which caused him criticism and so little people attending his funeral when he died at 1809. Paine live in a critical time, he lived in the time period that is the most

Thomas Paine, someone who was public about his dismay toward England and her tyrannical rule, made it clear that although he and the other citizens of England were oppressed, America was the prime example of mankind (Common Sense). Meaning that America’s mission toward freedom was what all of mankind was working towards, and that without England, they would have nothing to work

He argues that a democratic system based on continual elections and rights of the people protected by a written constitution would be more beneficial to society. To strengthen the concept of democracy, Paine speaks of a hypothetical society brought up in an isolated part of the world, away from other inhabitants. This supposed society represented the first people. Thomas Paine claims that some of its people will have many accomplishments other will not; thus through hunger, disease, misfortune and death it is inevitable that the people will set up some form of government that “…will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this (not on the unmeaning name of king) depends the strength of government, and the happiness of the governed” (Thomas Paine, Common Sense). This statement reassures his beliefs towards democracy while showing how pointless English rule is to society. Thomas Paine is attempting to promote American independence with this document by explaining the benefits of democracy, in doing so he is demeaning the English government. Paine emphasizes the prejudices the English may have had by stating, “And as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose

Paine claims that “if a thief breaks into [his] house, burns and destroys [his] property, and kills or threatens to kill [him], or those that are in it, and to “bind [him] in all cases whatsoever,” to his absolute will, is [he] to suffer it?” Paine is clearly comparing Britain’s king to a thief because the king is depriving the colonists of their liberty. This analogy and rhetorical question affirms, once again, that colonists need to stand up against British rule because like with a thief, the people would not stand by and let Britain’s king commit a crime against them. Also, when Paine mentions that Britain would “bind him in all cases whatsoever,” he implies that under Britain’s rule they would be like slaves. Just like slaves are bonded to their masters, the colonists would be ultimately chained to British rule. Thus, the notion of becoming like slaves would evoke rage among the colonists and

Throughout Thomas Paine’s argument towards Britain and the effects of England’s monarchy on America. There are many times in which he talks about the constitutional monarchy at the time. Going in depth on his feelings towards the legislative principle of the constitutional monarchy in England. As well as, the type of legislative principles that he advocates for America. Including, the ways in which the continental congress differed from the constitutional monarchy in England.

Thomas Paine, a revolutionary, intellectual, and supporter of American independence from England published a book titled, “Rights of Man” which deals with the government shielding the natural rights of its people. Initially, the book captures the diverse aspect of this nation, but it fails to reveal the struggles that arise to preserve and adapt to such a society. Paine expresses his optimism towards the supposed perfection of American society, as one “made up...of people from different nations,” with certain expectations. Additionally, the time gap between “Rights of Man” and modern America cannot be neglected. Paine wrote during an era in which “constructing a government on the principles of society and the rights of man” was the essential objective of the country. However, modern-day America experiences opposite ideals and Paine’s theory no longer remains true because of the educational gap between the rich and poor, terrorism, and racial profiling.

Thomas Paine was an English-American philosopher, political theorist, political activist, revolutionary, and one of Americas Founding Fathers. He was born on February 9, 1737 in Thetford, United Kingdom. His early life in England consisted of little education, other than reading, writing, and arithmetic, and numerous jobs such as stay maker, corset makers, and an officer. He never exceeded at any of these tasks. It was 1772 where he published his first political article pertaining to the higher pay excise officers should receive. After this, Paine moved to America where he went on to work for Pennsylvania Magazine and write several essays and pamphlets that influenced many Americans during the American Revolution. Some of his crucial pieces of work consist of African Slavery in America, Rights of a Man, The Age of Reason, and perhaps Paine’s