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How Does Patrick Henry Use Figurative Language

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Patrick Henry was an early revolutionist in the 1700s. He made the speech “Give me Liberty Or Give Me Death” on March 23, 1775, in front of the House of Parliament. Henry argues to the House to prepare for war. Through syntax, logical fallacies, and figurative language. Patrick Henry effectively persuades the audience to prepare for war. Henry begins with syntax to persuade his audience. One example is parallelism. “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?” paragraph two. Henry makes a claim that failure to see or hear his case will result in destruction. It is beneficial for the audience to listen to Henry or have to suffer the consequence of the war. Another example of parallelism is found in paragraph 3. “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the …show more content…

Throughout his whole speech, he uses a lot of rhetorical questions. In the second paragraph when addressing the president he quotes “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle of liberty? Are we disposed to be the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” He asks these rhetorical questions to question the Virginia politicians. Create an emotion with the audience , and have the audience feel guilty for not taking charge. Patrick Henry also uses metaphor and imagery to effectively persuade his audience. “They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging.” paragraph 3. He continues to contribute the image of slavery to explain that the Colonies used arguments to combat the British attempts to enslave them, but these efforts failed. Slaveholders among the politicians would know and acknowledge this

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