Rhetorical Analysis Of Speech In The Virginia Convention By Patrick Henry

In “The Speech to the Virginia Convention”, Patrick Henry addresses the colonists’ submissiveness towards Great Britain. He utilizes passionate diction, syntax, and figurative language to implore the delegates that it is time for America to fight for its freedom. To commence, Patrick Henry incorporates a biblical reference into his speech which juxtaposes the American, British conflict with the Bible. Henry implemented the verse “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss” (para.3) that entails when Judas gave Jesus a kiss even though he was betraying him behind his back.

At the Virginia Convention in 1775, Patrick Henry delivered a speech to the president and the delegates at the convention expressing his opinion on the colonies relationship with Great Britain. Henry’s purpose when delivering this speech was to persuade the men at the convention to go to war with Great Britain in order to gain independence from them, which will ultimately allow the colonists to gain more freedom. Patrick Henry uses metaphors and rhetorical questions in his speech to the Virginia Convention in order to persuade the president and delegates to rebel against and go to war with Great Britain. Patrick Henry uses metaphors as literary devices in order to inform his audience of the problems with Great Britain and in order to attempt

In the “Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, Henry urges the British colonists to fight for their independence. Although it was very unlikely that the colonists would win, this speech motivated the colonists to fight with all of their strength. Arguably, Patrick Henry’s speech had a monumental impact on the moral of the colonists, leading them to a victory. If Henry’s speech did not inspire the colonists, they may not have gained their freedom and Henry could have been convicted of treason. In the “Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, Henry uses imagery and conveys a sense of fear to the colonists in order to inspire them to fight for their independence.

Patrick Henry begins by establishing that he is patriotic to his country as he affirms that no one but him "thinks more highly" of patriotism. Henry eventually builds ethos by his religious passion as he elaborates on the significance of light throughout this address. Henry

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.

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” (Henry 104). The period directly prior to the Revolutionary War was a time of increased tension, mostly surrounding the Colonies relationship with Britain. The people were being taxed harshly and unfairly, but there had yet to be a definite stop to it. By the time the Intolerable Acts had been put in place to punish colonists, England’s bond with America was nearing a crisis. Britain continued to oppress; and colonists continued to grow bitter at the treatment. Patrick Henry most effectively uses pathos in his “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by touching upon the fear being felt from Britain’s presence in the Colonies, and focusing on the colonists desire to be free from Britain’s rule.

In the 1700s, the United States was undergoing several reformations. Patrick Henry was a famous politician fighting for independence from Great Britain. Patrick Henry, in his speech to the “Second Virginia Convention”, using diction, imagery, and details portrays a patriotic tone.

First, Patrick Henry, author of “Speech in the Virginia Convention”, uses allusions and rhetorical questions to convince his

“Give me liberty, or give me death!” is a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry, which he used to close his speech to Virginia Convention. During this time period, the 1770s, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson all made arguments in favor of separation of the American colonies from Great Britain; many of these appeals were persuasive for different reasons, whether that be logical, emotional, or pertaining to credibility and trust, which is to say logos, pathos, and ethos. First of all, we will examine Henry’s arguments during his speech at the Virginia Convention. Then, we will identify Paine’s appeals in a part of his essay, The Crisis n1. Lastly, we will evaluate Jefferson’s myriad of arguments in a part of his Autobiography.

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 the Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry, the author uses multiple literary devices and a unifying tone to support his claim for the Americans to go against British oppression and to

“Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on

Context and quote- Henry makes an allusion to Homer’s Odyssey during his speech in the Virginia Convention. “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts” (81).

According to Patrick Henry, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Henry 7). Patrick Henry was able to give an outstanding speech at the Virginia Convention, regarding the actions needing to be taken by the colonists. This speech included the criticizing and denouncing of Great Britain, along with the urging of the colonists to fight for independence. This including that the colonists need to become prepared because the unjust actions of the British were not simply going to go away. Henry urges the colonists to fight for the freedom that they rightfully deserve, and he does it extremely well. In Patrick Henry’s ‘Speech to the Virginia Congress’, he demonstrates passionate pathos appeals and rhetorical questioning to persuade the colonists to stand up for themselves and join the fight for their freedom.

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.