Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry, an esteemed and articulate attorney in Virginia, attempts to convince Peyton Randolph and his fellow Virginian patriots to go to war against Britain. Henry speaks with a sense of urgency while provoking his audience. His audience is inundated with patriotism and reminded of how they’ve been wronged by the Crown throughout his speech. Henry includes the audience by being extremely eloquent; he achieves this by interrogating his audience with rhetorical questions that force them to reconsider their ideals.
The tone is imperative in conveying the speaker’s message appropriately; with a proper tone, one can be exceptionally influential and articulate. Patrick Henry has excellent control of his tone in this speech. His oration sends

Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come! (Henry, line 94)”. Henry argues that they can’t back out now and if they do, they’ll be enslaved by Britain. He says with their current ideas he can already see his country being enslaved. He gives an example of the Boston Massacre,— Britain troops open fire and murder 5 civilians— saying that Britain had already conquered Boston by establishing fear in their hearts. He has now provoked the audience and has gotten their attention and argues that war is inevitable for their freedom, and they mustn’t fear it and should let it come. In particular, “But when shall we be stronger? Will it be next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house?” Henry, now, plants a question in the audience’s hearts. He asks when

As a result, the speaker is victorious in his attempt to persuade the audience. Patrick Henry appeals to the listener’s emotions and gains control of them. He uses patriotism to guide the audience toward his ideas. Along with patriotism, he creates a sense of brotherhood for his audience. Henry announced, “No man thinks more highly than I do of patriotism” AND “Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?” Henry angers the audience with his opening statement. He says that nobody else in the room is more patriotic than he is. This obviously infuriates the audience and makes them think that they’re equally patriotic and committed to the colonies. Later in the speech, he points out that the soldiers are already fighting and asks why they’re standing here with no purpose, driving the audience to help their country. Henry doesn’t say soldiers, instead he says brethren creating a sense of brotherhood. By creating a sense of brotherhood he appeals to the audience’s emotions, any emotions one might have towards their brother, which encourages them to support their brethren on the field. In conclusion, Henry uses the audience’s emotions to his advantage and brings out the patriotic self of the