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Patrick Henry Rhetorical Devices

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“Rhetorics in Patrick Henry’s Speech” During the tension before the American Revolution, colonial outlook on freedom was bleak. Governor Patrick Henry conveyed the urge for retaliation against Great Britain in his speech at the Virginia Convention. In Patrick Henry’s speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” he uses rhetorical devices, such as logos and pathos to instill the drive in the Convention to rebel against Great Britain and its tyrannical rule. Patrick Henry lived in colonial Virginia in the 1700s. He was governor of the state multiple times and was an outspoken opponent of British taxes against the colonies. Henry became so staunchly against the British taxes that he spoke directly to the governing body of Virginia at the Virginia …show more content…

Pathos is an appeal that evokes emotion or intense feelings. The use of this appeal in Henry's speech conveyed his point to the melodramatic Convention members. To elicit passion upon his contemporaries, Henry mentioned the biblical story of the Children of Israel, more specifically the Bible verse Exodus 14:14. The book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites deliverance from slavery to the Egyptians. Henry draws comparisons to colonial times when he says, “There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged, their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!” (Lines 58-59). Henry feels as if the colonists are as desperate and exasperated as the Children of Israel. Moses, the leader of the Israelites, promised to them that God would carry them through the battle of dealing with Pharaoh. Henry uses a direct reference to Exodus 14:14 when he says, “There is a just God...to fight our battles for us” (Line 10). The direct scripture quote is, “The Lord will fight for you while you keep still.” The allusion to the Exodus story triggers the pathos reaction of the audience. The reassurance of God’s protection would allow Henry’s audience, the Virginia Convention, to give way for a relation against Great Britain. Without Patrick Henry’s use of rhetorical appeals in his speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” America may have never

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Additionally, Henry asserts that “[they] have petitioned; [they] have remonstrated; [they] have supplicated; [they] have prostrated [themselves] before the throne” to “avert the storm” of the upcoming war. Henry’s appliance of anaphora with “we” at the beginning of subsequent clauses emphasizes that the colonists have done much to avoid any violent outcome with the British. He notes that the colonists are trying to resolve problems while Britain is only “produc[ing] additional violence and insult.” Hence, Henry underscores Britain’s neglect of possible solutions and their inclination for violence. In essence, Henry’s clever use of various rhetorical strategies persuades the colonies to achieve their freedom from Britain.

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The convincing and commanding speech, “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry emphasizes religious reference to help him makes his argument. For example, he says "Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss" which is a reference to Judas betrayal of Christ. In conclusion though he is talking about how Parliament is pretending to be nice but will only turn on the colonists as soon as they get a chance. He’s comparing the Parliament with Judas and the colonists with Christ to advert to a time where one of the most famous betrayals went on.

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Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!” Henry appeals to pathos here because he emotionally describes how there is no other choice but to go to war and fight the British. He feels retreating to the British would only result in slavery, and not grant the colonies their freedom. He uses an onomatopoeia to create imagery to the people as if they are locked up, and he lets them know just how great and negative impact a retreat would have on the colonies, thus creating an emotional appeal.

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On March 23, 1775, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” was heard all throughout St. John 's Church. These famous words were not only a great speaker looking to have his voice heard, but they would have an everlasting impact on young English students studying the use of ethos, logos, and pathos. Patrick Henry also used figurative languages such as allusions, parallelism, and biblical references to bring his speech to life. In this specific piece of literature, qualities like independence and individualism are exceedingly prominent, this all being due to Henry’s use of literary devices. Conversely, in the very first sentence, Henry uses ethos to articulate how he is patriotic to his home, but he occupies diverse views than his audience, the Virginia

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His choice of language is effective at evoking emotion. Through rhetorical questions, Henry was able to emphasize his points, and grab the audience’s attention, creating an emotional effect on the listeners. “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” These statements prove the speaker’s argument and stir the audience’s emotions.

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During this time, religion was very important so it was very crucial for Patrick Henry to mention this in his speech, because it was a main appeal everyone had in common. Finally, Patrick Henry uses the rhetorical appeal of logos, logic appeal. Mr. Henry uses logos when he says, “...what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?”. This is a logical analysis, because he points out that there is no other reason for the warlike products, but for the Americans. Another logical point Mr. Henry makes is when he says “...we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on...petitioned...remonstrated...supplicated...and implored its interposition...

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but he has different views than his audience, the Virginia Convention, does. Throughout the speech, Henry uses words like “we” and “ourselves” to show that he is still with the audience, and not against them. Henry continues on in that same paragraph by using pathos. When he said, "Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself guilty of treason towards my own country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. " He is saying that this is what he needs to do for his God.

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