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Figurative Language In Patrick Henry Speech

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In Patrick henry’s Speech at the Virginia Convention, he sought to get his opinion across to the colonists. In this speech Patrick Henry tries to persuade the colonists to declare war against the British. Patrick Henry uses appeals of shared values, facts and data, and figurative language to entice the colonists to join the fight for independence. Patrick Henry uses appeals to shared values in order to address the colonists that they all share the same mission. For example, Henry claims “But different men often see the same subject in different lights.” Henry is addressing that they might not have or agree with the same opinions as others but they all share the value of fighting for their independency. In addition Henry states “I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs.” The message he is portraying is that he knows he has a right to state his opinion as long as it doesn’t offend the colonists and is conveyed in a respectful manner. Patrick Henry uses facts and data in …show more content…

Henry claims “Give me liberty or give me death!” In this statement Henry symbolizes such a great extent of passion towards the fight for independence through that quote. He also states “What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased and slavery?” Henry is expressing that there will always be a price for things that we truly want. In this case the price is a fight for independence, that won’t be easy but will pay off in the long run. Patrick Henry symbolized various rhetorical devices such as figurative language, appeals to shared values, and facts and data. These devices were used to sway the minds of the colonists to join the fight for independence. His speech was successful in persuading the colonists, as the war made a major mark on

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