Ms. Horvath
Speech to the Virginia Convention/1
11-29-11
In 1775, a young American scholar by the name of Patrick Henry delivered a very famous speech that most historians remember today. One of his most famous quotes “Give me liberty or give me death” persuaded the Virginia Convention to agree that the time for war is now. At the time, Great Britain was the most powerful country in the world and for Patrick Henry to convince the colonies to go to war he used rhetorical devices, allusions, and symbolism.
Patrick Henry uses a variety of allusions to convince his listeners at the convention that they have suffered for ten years. An allusion is a reference to someone or something that is known from history, religion, or literature. “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” This allusion refers to Judas from the bible who betrayed Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. In the Odyssey, the sea maiden’s seductive songs lured sailors to their deaths. Henry insists that the British are luring them in with all of these false hopes and promises.
“Has Great Britain any enemy, in this corner of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?” (81). Patrick Henry exhausts this rhetorical question to grab the attention of the Convention by implying that if Great Britain is not against us, why are troops going to be formed around them.
The second rhetorical question is “What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?” Meanings that what compromises and boundaries could they find to keep with Britain that they didn’t already have or argue over a third one, “But when shall we be stronger?” (82). Because he is asking them if we are not strong enough today, when will we be stronger? That was no logical excuse.
Henry’s speech to the Virginia Convention is one of the most persuading speeches of all time. He convinced a weak country to go to war against the strongest country of the world at that time. He used allusion, rhetorical devices, and symbolism.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Patrick Henry, in his Virginia Convention speech of 1775, encourages delegates to prepare for war against Britain. He urgently explained how peaceful protest is no longer an option. He uses rhetorical questions to create awareness of topics. He used rhetorical questions to create awareness of topics that help support his ideas of preparing for war. Henry says, “And what have we to oppose them?…
- 211 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Patrick Henry’s argument on declaring independence on Great Britain and going to war was an inspiring speech that has shined a new light on the subject of whether to declare independence or stay loyal to a country that has done us more harm than good and has ultimately led me to become a rebel. I have become a rebel for two main reasons, our petitions that they have not noticed were an attempt at peace and the mistreatment from the last ten years. To start, petitions had not been productive whatsoever. When Britain had done something that had made us miserable, we decided to meet in the middle and make peace with Britain though petitions. Unfortunately Britain had ignored and disregarded us and our petitions, and instead, had sent us harm and…
- 425 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention”(1775) Patrick Henry convinced colonist to fight against Britain; he constructed extensive use of three main rhetorical devices in his speech to persuade colonist to go to war and fight for what they truly desire. Presenting his speech in House of Burgesses, Henry sincerely respected his audience to gain their respect and attention to comprehend his urgency.…
- 382 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The quote delivered by the brave, intelligent, and risk taking Patrick Henry states “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience” (Henry 3). As a citizen of the United States, Henry states this to let the citizens know that his speech contains all accurate information from his personal knowledge and experiences. In addition, it demonstrates that he is only guiding the colonists in the right direction towards freedom. In Patrick Henry’s “Speech To The Virginia Convention” he displays rhetorical questions and expressive exclamatory sentences to influence the colonists to join the fight for peace and freedom.…
- 666 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Through an extremely impassioned tone and expressive diction, Patrick Henry is more than successful in persuading his audience that war is the only option left in gaining independence. In Henry’s entire speech to the Virginia Convention, he remains strong, yet sensitive in how he interacts with his audience. He establishes himself as a Patriot through ethos and his persuasion to go to war only becomes stronger as his speech continues.…
- 376 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Leading up to the fierce and fiery confrontations at Lexington and Concord, a tumultuous period of debate and negotiation ensued regarding the preferred response of the colonies to British encroachment on their rights. The meeting of Virginian representatives in March of 1775 would prove to be a fruitless affair; that is, until a young, ardent lawyer by the name of Patrick Henry delivered an impassioned oration, with the intent of elucidating upon the reality of the situation: that the then-colonies were being driven to militant opposition of their royal overlords, and that to continue on passively would be to “retreat...[into] submission and slavery.” In his speech, Patrick Henry persuades the convention, and thereby the people, of the necessity of revolution through his employment of metaphorical imagery, stylized religious and mythological allusions, and a slew of rhetorical questions. In a blaze of libertarian sentiment, Henry incited the passions of the delegates and set the stage for the most glorious revolution in the history of mankind.…
- 1600 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
What would make you risk your life for a cause that was seldom considered achievable? At the time Patrick Henry gave his speech most Americans at the time were small farmers, and they all had the same fear of Britain invading the colonies. Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” utilizes logos to persuade his fellow colonists to fight the British.…
- 333 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
“Give me liberty or give me death.” Patrick Henry. He stands for the freedom of the country like everyone else. Unlike where Samuel Adams and Paul Revere decide to go to war for freedom first Patrick Henry decided to go the political way first.…
- 385 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
During 1775, the American Colonies had a dispute between each other in the Virginia Convention on whether a war should be declared against Britain. For one of the meetings, Patrick Henry, an attorney and politician, gave a speech explaining his position on why the colonies should go to war. In his speech, Henry successfully applied the rhetorical strategies of metaphor and repetition to convey his argument that a war against Britain was the only right course of action to take.…
- 550 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
"And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. "(Henry, 89) Henry uses several rhetorical questions on the issues and uses a short answer to response them. It clearly shows that the action that they took before for getting freedom was useless under British's rude control. Last but not least, Henry emphasis the importance of freedom. "Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Henry ends his speech with this famous quote. He indicates that he'd rather die for his country than living without freedom. He repeats the importance of freedom and accentuates it in the last…
- 490 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
He attempted to gain support for measures to arm the colony of Virginia by declaring that Britain had proven its resentment. "We must fight!" Henry declared. "An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! … Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" The delegates were fascinated by Henry's passion and swept away by his sincerity. Virginia rushed down the road to…
- 600 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
This implies that the British could do a better job at keeping the colonies safe which is why they do not need Great Britain, the colonies can protect themselves better than Great…
- 598 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Compassion fatigue is not a new concept. As long as individuals have needed help, people have come to the rescue. Originally it was identified in social workers, as they see sad, sometimes devastating situations that they must deal with on a daily basis. In 1992, Joinson identified the concept of compassion fatigue in nursing. According to Potter, Deshields, Divanbeigi, Berger, Cipriano, Norris & Olsen, (2010), Joinson identified behaviors that were characteristic of compassion fatigue, including chronic fatigue, irritability, dread going to work, aggravation of physical ailments, and a lack of joy in life. Dr. Charles Figley expanded on the concept and more formally defined compassion fatigue in 1995. Figley explained compassion fatigue as…
- 291 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Henry uses motivation to inspire the colonists to be an independent country where the individual is free rather than being under England's rule. This shows in Henry quote “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” This quote shows the power of how one individual can motivate other individuals.…
- 532 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Patrick Henry- not at convention because he was chosen by Virginia but declined to serve; professed to fee in fearsome doc. the death warrant of liberty…
- 1084 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays