Rhetorical Analysis Of The Crisis No. 2 By Thomas Paine

In “The Crisis No. 2”. 1” Thomas Paine uses a direct and austere tone to motivate the colonists during a bad time in the Revolutionary War. Paines opening line “These are the times that try men’s souls,” is designed to show the reader the sense of determination and belief he has for the colonist. On the other hand, Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention, 1775” is known for its dramatic delivery, with the concluding line, “... give me liberty or give me death.” Henry’s persuasion is shown by Pathos, which convinces listeners to consider the consequences if nothing is done to stop King George. In the pamphlet, “The Crisis No. 1” by Thomas Paine, Paine uses a number of persuasive ways and tactics to motivate colonists to keep moving forward and not to give up. According to the text, Paine added, …show more content…

In Henry’s speech he states, “I consider it nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery;” (169). Henry uses imagery in this statement to give the audience an image of the loyalists being slaves to King George. This seems like a good argument to show that Henry uses better persuasion than Thomas Paine. However it is not, Thomas Paine opened his text with, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of a man and woman.” (144). Paine is referring to "the summer soldier" and "the sunshine patriot," as soldiers who are devoted to the cause of independence while the war is going well, but as soon as the war proceeds to get difficult and demands personal discomfort and sacrifice, these soldiers would fall away and be unfaithful to the cause. This statement shows that Paine uses pathos to connect with his audience in an emotional way that gives them a more in depth personal view of his