Rhetorical Analysis Of Henry Patrick's Speech To The Virginia Convention

.“No man thinks more highly than I do of patriotism” (Henry). Patrick Henry lived from 1736-1799 and was a tall, lank, somber-looking man that dressed like a preacher. He was a lawyer at age 29 and had a speech against the Stamp Act. He wrote his Speech to Virginia Convention to get the people to vote for him for presidency.

Rhetorical Devices in “Speech in the Virginia Convention” Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” was a persuasive speech in favor of the revolution against the British Parliament. Like many people, at the time, Henry wanted to break free from Britain and start the United States of America. He delivered the speech on March 23, 1775 to the Virginia Convention with serious tone in attempt to rally up the convention for war. In the speech Henry used many rhetorical devices to persuade the convention. Some of the more effective devices are restatement, hypophora, and antithesis.

In the “The speech of Virginia convention” Patrick Henry is addressing how he feels over a certain topic. The topic of the delegates speeches were not supporting Henry's speech, but Henry presented his speech in a very sophisticated way. Henry shows his beliefs and values in his speech he gave in front of the delegates. Henry uses a very strong but not overpowering tone to convey his message.

At the Virginia convention in 1774, the delegates such as Patrick Henry, gather to decide their course of action, in a time where their primary goal was to rid themselves of their oppressor, Great Britain. Patrick Henry addresses the other delegates and discloses his opinion on what course of action the people should take. In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry forcefully influences the audience to go to war with Great Britain through diction, figurative language and rhetorical devices and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British Invasion. Patrick Henry emphasizes his opinion of the necessary war by using diction such as ethos and logos, through appeals to their senses that make connections for the audience. Through Henry’s repetitive utilization of ethos

Imagine living without representation in the government; a world where people are treated like objects without natural rights. This is how the American colonists lived from the mid-1760’s to the mid-1770’s as taxes and acts were placed upon them without any representation in Parliament. This caused tension between England and the colonies, which consequently, after several failed treaties and negotiations, kicked off the American Revolution. On 23 March 1775, Patrick Henry gave his “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention.”

Compare and Contrast Essay Freedom, equality, and success are all similar but different views in life. In Patrick Henry's speech “Speech to the Virginia convention” he talked about how he believed people could achieve these beliefs. In a like manner so did John F Kennedy in his “inaugural speech”. Both JFK and Patrick Henry viewed freedom, equality, and success in very similar but different ways.

Patrick Henry’s use of rhetorical questions aided his persuasive speech to the Virginia Convention. First of all, he used a rhetorical question when he said, “Shall we try argument,” (Henry 101). This quote proves that the common people shouldn’t attempt to create a dispute between themselves & Britain. He said this because he didn’t want things to get more worse than they already were.

Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry were two important people in American History who made a difference. Franklin’s “Speech in the Convention and Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” helped guide our nation to independence and democracy. Both speeches have good examples of rhetorical devices, but I think Patrick Henry speech ‘Speech in the Virginia Convention” has better rhetorical devices. Some examples are rhetorical question, logos, diction, and imagery. Patrick Henry style and content is more effective then Benjamin Franklin because Patrick uses a plethora of things such as imagery, “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!

Patrick Henry’s speech Many things happened in the 1700’s that caused conflict. On March 22, 1765 the stamp act was passed by parliament,the law was any goods would be taxed and sold to the colonist. In 1775 Patrick Henry created a speech to encourage the colonist to boycott and get the parliament to repeal the stamp act. The speech said “ give me liberty or give me death”, what he means by that is give us freedom or give us death.

The Flamboyant Trumpet “Give me liberty, or give me death.” Patrick Henry, born on May 29th, 1736 in Studley, Virginia, had one of the most memorable speeches of his time. Henry played a major role in the American Revolution. Henry taught by his father and uncle, only received minimal education. He married his first wife, Sarah Shelton in 1754 and together they had six children.

In Patrick Henry's speech to the Second Virginia Convention, he uses a metaphor to compare the conflict between the colonists and Britain to a storm. He talks about everything the colonists have already done to resolve the tension with Britain. Henry then tries to convince those listening to his speech that fighting is their only option

In times of oppression, mankind has always been known to stand up and fight for a good cause, and the American Revolution was no exception. Held down by the wickedness of the British Empire for some time, America had finally had enough. One voice that stood out in the colonies was that of Patrick Henry. He was an elective of the House of Burgesses and delivered many speeches on the need for revolution. One of his most famous speeches is the “Speech in the Virginia Convention.”

Henry emphasizes that the government's current tactics to gain liberty are not working, by questioning them. Henry asks “Shall we try to argument,” should they use reason to negotiate their freedom with the British government? He assures the Second Virginia council that would not work “Sir, we have been trying that for the past ten years.” He explains that failure is inevitable, if they are merely negotiating. Henry is implying they need a direct approach in order to achieve freedom: war.