Patrick Henry's Argumentative Essay

Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?” This effectively puts the audience into a panic of a future under the British, luring them more into Henry’s ideas of war. The audience, already hyped from their boosted sense of independence since the beginning of the speech, is now completely vulnerable to Henry’s words.

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”, in which he discusses with the colonists who were under the tyrannical reign of the Crown. Throughout his speech, Henry lists all of the discrepancies the thirteen colonies had with Great Britain, concluding that there is no other option, but to retaliate instantaneous. 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.

“GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!” Patrick Henry wrote this to convince his fellow men to take up arms and take action against the British before it was too late. Patrick Henry used an abundance rhetorical devices to convince the House of Burgesses to take up arms. He used rhetorical devices such as: biblical allusions, metaphors, repetition, logos, and others.

Henry’s diction portrays the British as untrustworthy and dishonorable. In the beginning of his speech, Henry states that he considers the need of independence from the British “nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.” The words “freedom” and “slavery” are provided as ultimatums in which one can only have one, not both. The negative connotation conveyed through the word “slavery” make the delegates in the convention compare their situation of being ruled by the Britains to that of a slave and slave owner, leading to the consensus of the immorality displayed by the British. Therefore the delegates feel the absolute power the British have over the American colonists which incites a fear over their lack of control. The word “freedom” is most commonly associated with something one must fight to win. Through this word, Henry is able to imply to his audience that the Americans must fight with the Britains in order to gain freedom. In addition, when describing the military preparations the British are taking, Henry expresses that “these war-like preparations … cover American

Henry believed that the British tyranny would continue to oppress the colonists, in which America should fight for their liberty. Henry continued with, “I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on,” pointing out that there is no better choice than war. Moreover, he appealed to emotion by stating, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it.” Henry emphasized that a peaceful life is not bounded on slavery, but on liberty.

In the speech given by Henry, the use of Ethos in his rhetoric was very evident. Questions of morality were brought into play to sway the Convention that the need for independence from England was present. “For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” Not only does he question how moral withholding from the fight for

In 1775, Patrick Henry gave America one of the most inspiring speeches that will bring soon bring them together with war on the rise. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” has become the battle-cry to the people in the colonies to take a stand against Britain’s rule and make America their own country. Even after the attempted peace between the two countries, it has been exhausted to the breaking point, and it has come to the time where fighting for their own freedom is the only viable option. Henry’s speech spoke volumes to the American people of the truth, the false presence of peace, and the cry for battle against Britain.

Patrick Henry uses diction and appeal to the authority to conjure up the people to believe in themselves to demonstrate ethos. Henry uses different vocabulary to make his speech more serious and important. Patrick Henry points out, “we have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope”(Henry 2). Everything that they are doing is making a difference, but it takes time. The word choice of “petitioned”, “interposition”, “supplicated” and “discarded” will convince the people that Henry knows what to say, to his advantage, with his skills he worked with makes him a reliable

By utilizing the image of God being on their side, Henry is able to influence the audience into questioning their current strategies. He uses emotional words, phrases, and implications in each paragraph that connect to God in some way, strengthening his argument that his views are faultless. He respectfully conveys that by lacking war and not fighting Britain, they are displeasing God. “I consider it nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” refers to the colonists’ need to fight. The powerful words “freedom” and “slavery” contradict each other as they bring both fear and joy to the audience as it portrays their future outcome, depending on what action they take right now.

“I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death” (Henry). These famous words were delivered by the young Virginia representative, Patrick Henry, on March 23rd of 1775. He was a driving force in the upbringing of America and his use of pathos greatly influenced the nation’s future. Similar to most American politicians of the time, he was highly antagonistic towards British control in the colonies, and thus feared that if U.S. forces were not armed against them, the future of the nation would be in peril. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention”, he utilizes pathos as a tool to aide him in persuading the Virginia Assembly to prepare America’s troops for battle against the British by evoking trepidation and concern from within his audience.

Henry also suggests that we should come together to fight Britain and not just talk and bicker, “Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?” (5). The obvious answer to this question is that, no, we do not gather strength by irresolution and inaction, and the other delegates then understand this, and will want to support his view. Both of these questions included in Henry’s speech help him achieve his purpose by helping the other delegates understand Britain’s true goals, and making them want to join his cause for American Independence. Henry also uses hyperbole to get his point across during his speech.

In Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention, he urges the delegates to believe that seceding from Britain is the best course of action for the United States of America. Henry's restatement of key ideas, imagery, and allusion to god are the three main factors that enable the audience to believe that the United States of America’s independence from Britain is essential for the colonies' prosperity.

“ Have we shone ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called to win back our love” (Henry 102).On the day of March 23, 1775 a small Virginia lawyer was called the represent his area in the Virginia House of Burgesses. His name was Patrick Henry. After hearing some of the other men speak about what the colonists should do about the revolution, Henry had made up his mind about what he thought the best plan would be. He gave his speech most well known as the “liberty or death” speech. He was different then the other men that spoke because not only did he have passion, but he wanted to fight for the freedom he thought the colonists deserved (unlike the others who wanted to remain neutral about the war). By appealing the the

In my writing prompt I will be explaining how Henry V, explained/showed his ability to make all of his men feel valued and equal even if they are clearly of varying status. Also the kind of brotherhood how brother’s stick together no matter how hard it get’s or how easy the obstacle will be just knowing someone is by your side means everything to them and not if they win but staying together as a team will help.

Patrick Henry's speech “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!” informs us of forthright and freedom of speech. He introduces the struggle for liberty and patriotism; what the government or president shall do to keep a stronger economy and militias for the sake of retaining safety and peace for the country. In addition, the speech enlightens that we are weak against our enemies eye when we do have an option of dragging our allies for aid. It also encourages us to speak up and use our voices to state out what we believe is right. Current political culture in the United States reflects to Patrick Henry’s value of “candid civility” as neither civil nor candid.