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A Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry's Speech

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Patrick Henry presented a monumental speech that convinced the Virginia delegates to consider independence from England. Henry’s speech was one of the many catalysts that tilted the once ambivalent and divided mindsets of the colonists about England to a rebellious sentiment. The powerful speech was delivered on March 23, 1775 which called for opposition against the British; the rapid success of the Henry’s speech can be seen by the first military engagements in the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 shortly after the speech was made at the Virginia Convention. In his speech, Henry attempts to persuade the members of the Convention that war with Britain is inevitable and waiting will only make the war more difficult to win. …show more content…

He knows that the delegates are devout Christians, and he uses this to his advantages by making references to God. He states, “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.” He believes that to fight for freedom is God’s truth as well as the country’s. In the fight for freedom, the statement places God on the side of the colonists. He then follows up with, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” God as Henry believes it stands with liberty, thus with the American colonies. In his assertion, he juxtaposes God as the Majesty of Heaven with earthly king, King George III. In placing God above the King of England, he hopes to appeal to the men’s pious beliefs and that they, too, will side with God over an earthly king. Furthermore, Henry removes any doubts about the colonies’ strength by appealing to a higher authority. He starts his refutation by saying, “Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.” He disproves the opposing argument that the colonies lack power to fight against Britain by asserting that they are invincible, for they are armed in the holy cause of …show more content…

He states, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne…” The list of reasons of attempted peace illustrates that the colonies are far from being the antagonists. The use of parallelism accentuates and emphasizes the numerous ways in which the colonists tried to maintain a state of peace that is continually disregarded by Britain. In addition, Henry ends his speech in a parallel structure. The prominent line reads, “Give me liberty or give me death!” The sentence empowers the concept of freedom, and by paralleling liberty and death, he is stating that there will be no compromise and the result will be one or the other. He finishes his message by equating death with slavery. Henry uses parallelism as a way to remind the men of British neglect as well as to clearly express his stance on

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