Andy Campbell Mrs.

Nogarr AP English 3, Period 6 September 4th, 2013 Title: Speech to the Virginia Convention Author: Patrick Henry Discussed: September 4th, 2013

Pathos: I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. (Paragraph 3,4)

Rhetorical Questions: Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? (Paragraph 3,4)

Patrick Henry played a very prominent role in the movement for independence in the American Revolution. In the spring of 1775, Patrick Henry met with members of the second Virginia Convention to discuss the need for a military mobilization against the British. Speaking with passion and fervor, he delivered a powerful, now-famous speech that persuaded opponents of the Revolution to unite and fight for freedom. Taking advantage of growing patriotic sentiment, Henry provided the last straw for remaining loyal to Britain and convinced

many that a war would be inevitable. To persuade his audience, Henry mainly relies on pathos or appeals to emotion, to strengthen his position. This is demonstrated in : I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. His energetic and enthusiastic tone established in his excerpt serves to evoke passion in the hearts of the listeners. An important element is the mention of God; Henry implies that God is on the colonists side, and thus the colonists have a moral obligation to fight the war. This philosophy would become an important motivator for soldiers in the war. Later, Henry compares Britains authority to the chains of slavery. This reinforces the view that Britain lacks empathy for colonists; Henry asserts that Britain only sees America as an economic extension of their empire. As colonists at the time were beginning to feel more like independent citizens, and not British subjects, these claims resonated in the hearts of the listeners. He also references Boston in this excerpt because Boston was the center of colonial resistance. Perhaps Henry wants to remind the audience of the Boston Massacre, in which British soldiers fired into a protesting crowd, to demonstrate his claim that Britain is careless to the colonists cause. Also notewort hy is the repetition of We must fight and Let it come. This illustrates Henrys thesis and leaves the listener with something to ponder, and highlights the urgency of the situation to stimulate an emotional reaction from the listeners. In addition to emotional appeal, Henry also utilizes rhetorical questions extensively. For example, he asks Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our

love? He proposes these questions to the audience as to point out they British fleets and armies are not on American soil to maintain peace or to protect the citizens, but to suppress the colonists. This justifies Henrys demands to go to war. Hen ry uses rhetorical questions throughout the piece, to engage the audience and stir up emotional reactions. Sometimes he uses them to propose drastic situations, in the case of But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? The mention of a British guard in every home alludes to the Quartering Act, in which British soldiers could legally take shelter in anyones home. Henry brings this up to instill fear into the audience, as to suggest what Britain will do if the colonists do nothing to stop them. He presents them in a way that implies they will be a threat to society. He then quells their fears by building up the audiences confidence in the next paragraphs, to elicit strong patriotic and nationalistic emotions. This is an effective technique: he casts the British in a negative light to make the audience fear them, and then offers a solution to make the audience more trusting of Henry, thus strengthening the portrayal of the British as oppressor, and Henry as the hero. Henrys use of rhetorical questions reinforces his view that the country must go to war.