Ethos In Patrick Henry's Speech To The Virginia Convention

    In Henry’s speech, he first sets the stage by using a proud tone while explaining the importance of war with Britain. His illustrious delivery of the speech itself is very moving, as the efforts to convince America to settle on the side of war. He goes on to convey, “Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of  those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power” (Henry 38). His tone of taking charge and only accepting the best from his country supports the claim that Henry is indeed the proud man he is. Henry also in his speech uses an enlightening tone to inspire his crowd he uses terms to explain how he will settle for only the best for the country. He uses phrases such as, “The war is inevitable-and let it come!” (38). This phrase brings up the emotion of the crowd as they believe in war, and Henry himself is full of power as he enforces that war must go on. He uses such enthusiasm and inspiration to uplift himself and the crowd to ensure that war is necessary. Overall, Henry;s tone of the proudness and

Patrick Henry’s speech to the Virginia Convention written and spoken by Patrick Henry raised the people 's attention. He spoke passionate words because he no longer wanted to be a slave to Britain.The men that attended the Virginia Convention realized that they needed to start fighting back after all the troubles the British caused. The British terrorized innocent people of America, even killed men, women, and children. In his speech he proposed resolutions to prepare the Virginia Colony for war and gave the speech to support those resolutions. His reasons for the speech were to convince the colonist, to try and maintain peace, to persuade war against Britain, and to show that he would be a good president. Patrick Henry’s speech was very effective regarding the Virginia Convention using ethos, pathos, and logos.

He tried to empower the audience with the idea of religion, having reassured them that God gave them power and they were not weak. He then attempted to use this empowerment to convince that a correct way to use their God-given power was to act against Britain, implying this through the current argument and his stance on the issue. He emphasized this with contradictory words of “weak” and “power” to make it more important in the audience's mind. As a whole, the statement is used to give them feelings of pride toward their country and powerful in the eyes of God. As a result, Henry used the ideas of nationalism and religion to emphasize and create a feeling of patriotism.

The fight for American independence was a long, arduous struggle, but many great literary works aided the battle. One such example is Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention”. Given in 1775 at the Virginia Provincial Convention, Henry aims to convince listeners of the futility of peace with Britain, and that they should join the efforts for the inevitable war. To accomplish this, Henry uses many different persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech”, Henry uses techniques such as rhetorical questions, allusion, and emotional appeal to convey the point that the United States must rebel against Britain.

Immediately as the speech begins, Henry’s tone manifests itself and remains unwavering. Henry begins, “It is natural for a man to indulge in the illustration of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth” (1). This sheds insight on his message and portrays him as a well versed individual. He then strengthens his tone when he says

Ethos is all about credibility/trust. In the speech, Patrick henry uses ethos by talking about who we are and who we should trust. “If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained -- we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us”(Henry)! By saying this, is message is that was we the people, we should stand up together and not be anticultural but to be one with each other. We must trust and fight with one another to win the war. Patrick Henry also uses tone and mood to help him point get across. With using different punctuations marks, you can really feel the tone and the mood that the author wants you to feel so you feel like you were actually there when me spoke. “It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”(Henry)! By using/saying these things the author used ethos because that's what people want the hear, that the leader is truthful, and has a

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, one of the crucial motivators of the American Revolution, delivers a speech in the Second Virginia Convention regarding gaining independence from Britain. Henry’s diction, allusions and counterarguments aid in his purpose of making the delegates feel the tyrannical rule by the British and believing in going to war with them is the only option in attaining freedom.

In “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” Henry utilized many rhetorical devices such as logos, pathos, and questions to successfully persuade the delegates at the Second Virginia Convention, in fighting against the British. He stated, “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience,” revealing his previous struggles with Britain.

Henry first displayed ethos by respecting opposing viewpoints among the hostile crowd in the House of Burgesses. He states, “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, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve” (Henry 226). Patrick Henry recognizes the magnanimity of the situation at hand and is cautious towards the emotions that he could evoke from his hostile audience. To disarm the crowd and ease them into his speech, Henry displays respect towards the other arguments and gains a similar respect and attention towards his own argument in

The prominent patriot Patrick Henry once said, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7) implying that a life without liberty is not a righteous life. Henry’s quote is included in his popular oratory “Speech to the Virginia Convention.” While discussing with the colonists, Henry lists all of the discrepancies the thirteen colonies had with Great Britain, concluding that there is no other option, but to retaliate instantaneously. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” he utilizes amplifying loaded words and coherent parallelism in order to influence the assembly to unify and reciprocate.

Writing to an audience that still lacks the desire to oppose the British, Patrick Henry in his "Speech to Virginia House of Burgesses" focuses on the rights of man and defying oppressors. Through figurative language, rhetorical questions, and diction, Henry heightens the necessity to rise up and fight against the British ruling power over the colonist population in Northern America.

In Patrick Henry’s speech to the Second Virginia Convention, he attempts to convince the delegates that it is that it is time to take a stand against the British rule in the colonies. He enforces the thought of fighting against one of the strongest countries at that time in order to gain their freedom from the torturous tariffs that the British have been placing on them.

In 1775 at the VIrginia Convention, a man by the name of Patrick Henry gave a speech about his stand on the upcoming Revolutionary War. During this speech, Patrick Henry used pathos to persuade the Virginia lawmakers and citizens to go to war. Henry used religion as a very influential standpoint when it came to his standpoint and convincing the others that going to war was the best option. Henry believed that they were “... disposed to… see not [and]... hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation,” (Henry 15-17). This belief comes directly from the Bible, Ezekiel 12:2. By using a direct quote from the bible, in a congregation full of extremely religious

“Sincerity- Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.”

When Henry starts his speech he first employs ethos by creating a respectful tone toward the delegates by using a litote to enhance his ethos by showing respect for the delegates: “I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do of opinions of a character very opposite to theirs.” Henry uses the litote, “Not be thought disrespectful,” to show that he doesn’t want to be disrespectful to them because if he were they wouldn't listen or care what he has to say and so he assumes a respectful tone to have them listen and judge it. Then he utilizes the metaphor where he compares the simle to a trap in order to show the delegates that they would betrayed if they make the British allies, “Is that insidious simile...will it prove a snare to your feet.” This displays the unloyalty of the British toward their people. Then he uses the allusion to demonstrate that the British are wicked by comparing them to Judas, who kissed Jesus which sent him to his death: “Suffer not yourself not yourselves to betrayed with a kiss.” Additionally, Henry utilizes these two to show the delegates that British would lead them astray while the colonist or henry wouldn’t which creates an explicit statement in order to fully support himself by saying that god is with us: “There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nation; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.” The use of this is to persuades the delegates that his goals of attaining