Age Of Reason Analysis

Improved Essays
Sir Mix-A-Lot once said, “when it comes to females, Cosmo ain’t got nothin to do with my selection.” This quote shows that he feels that people, specifically women in this instance, don’t need to follow the standards society sets out for them. Through the various times in American history, some groups would have agreed with him, and he would have faced the risk of death for this statement in some.
Romantics and individuals from the Age of Reason would agree with him: each of these groups pushed that an individual should do what he feels is right over what his society wants him to do. Romantics support this concept in its entirety; individuals from the Age of Reason supported the concepts of natural laws, including the freedom of speech, so
…show more content…
When Henry stood in front of the Virginian Congress and gave his speech, he specifically stated that “This is no time for ceremony.” He was presenting the unpopular opinion and he knew it, but he felt that his idea was better than the collective’s, so he fought for it anyway.
Thomas Paine also tried to push the people of the United States to go to war with Britain in this time. In his writing “American Crisis,” the very first sentence says that “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Instead of appealing to every person at once by saying their neighbors would be doing it or using any other number of propaganda techniques, Paine attempts to reach the mind of each and every individual, which shows where he believes true power lies.
Two more groups would probably force Sir Mix-a-Lot to stop supporting individuals over society. Realists believe in the power of the collective over the power of the individual, and Puritans only ever did anything in the name of God, so the opinions of individuals mattered very little to
…show more content…
Having abandoned the concept of an ideal person, they didn 't think any one person could be more impactful than all of society as a whole, or, for that matter, even have an impact at all, so they don’t think individuals should even try. The best example of this occurs in “Outcasts of Poker Flat,” where none of the main characters have any control over what happens. Meanwhile, in the beginning of the story, a new social trend was actually what forced them to leave the town and sent them to their deaths. The townspeople wanted to clean up the area, so they simply removed everyone who didn’t fit in with what they

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    This is evident even from the heading of Paine's third chapter, 'Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs.' ; The word 'thoughts' can infer that what follows is simply one man's conception on how things are and how they should be; that they may not necessarily reflect the true views of one nation. In fact, Paine says this in his introductory paragraph, by disclaiming that 'perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor'; (693). By this, he obviously means that his word may not speak for all. In contrast, the Declaration of Independence is a bold and assertive document.…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 2 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the Crisis, Thomas Paine motivates his audience to continue fighting the revolutionary war by appealing to their emotions, establishing his credibility, and presenting a clear argument.…

    • 109 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paine says that reconciliation would bring “The ruin of the Continent.” This does not mean that Pain wants America and Britain to forever be at war, but he is saying that in order to bring overall peace, America needs to be its own nation in order to thrive on its own and prevent further fighting. This will prevent emigrants from going to their colony of bad governing and constant fighting. One of his reasons is that the British has a monarchy rule with an unfair kind, and America wants to be a democracy. Paine does not think that the king has the right to tell everyone that “[They] shall make no laws but what [he pleases]” He then states that with all of the fighting and tension, it would be nearly impossible to move forward and the two colonies would eventually just…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In one of the many hard winter during the first years of the American revolution many soldiers had already begun to lose hope in any chance of victory. Then came Thomas Paine while he isn't the only reason why the soldiers recuperated he definitely played a big part. In the first article of the crisis Paine's use Ethos, logos, and Pathos to persuade and strengthen the soldiers to march on. First utilizing Pathos to capture the audience's attention and stirring their emotions. He then establishes a great Ethos with his war stories and supported it with logos of the country's current socio economic situation.…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    What Paine is explaining in this quote is it doesn’t matter what social class you are, or where you live, if you join the fight for freedom you will get freedom. Paine says this because he wants people to fight for what they believe in: freedom. Paine uses the literary devices aphorism, pathos, and aphorism to help influence the people in separating from Britain. Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine both used literary devices to help persuade their audiences into separating from Britain.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Paine puts the theoretical attack in Biblical terms, arguing that the monarchy originated in sin. Paine presents his specific problems with the British monarchy with his attack on hereditary succession, and also lists his many grievances with the present king. Another common piece of Paine's argument is that America will eventually be independent. Sometimes he states this as a fact, and other times he seems to be persuading the reader, detailing the extent of the rift separating the colonies and the English king. Since many people were unsure about the idea of a revolution that would sever them from the king, establishing the principle of American independence was an integral part of Paine’s arguments.…

    • 1328 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    These differences are instrumental in making Henry’s speech more effective. Henry presented his speech on March 23, 1775, which was before the Revolutionary War began whereas Paine wrote months after the war began. Henry’s audience was the Members of the Virginia Convention, top-tier government officials who would be responsible to call for war: “By custom, Henry addressed himself to the Convention’s president, Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg.” Paine, on the other hand, aimed his speech as the American public in general: “I call not upon a few, but upon all.” Henry’s speech was the trigger that sent America into the war.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Critical Thomas Paine writes powerfully about the upcoming revolution through his pamphlets to defend the necessity of the war against Britain. Paine explains his position for the war through hypophora, personal anecdotes, references to religion, and shifting pronouns. He speaks out to all the men of Philadelphia who question the purpose of the war, or the necessity, and to any Tory who may come across his pamphlet in order to allow the men to understand and convince them of why he believes that revolution is important and should be supported by any- all colonists. Although the topic is serious, Thomas writes in a satiric tone throughout the pamphlet to mock the Tories and any man who supports the King and his actions.…

    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Thomas Paine

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages

    He believed that if the promises of religion are true, in any respect, then there would be no need for social reform or democracy, because the promise can be fulfilled some other way, such as prayer, good works, or, perhaps, just faith, none of which actually seemed to work in Paine’s opinion. Paine, therefore, can be thefounding father not just of the American Revolution, but also of what we call the enlightenment movement. He claimed that because we are alone, we must turn to one another for answers. He did not see God helping citizens with their problems. Democracy and democrat were to be key words amongst the rebels, sadly these terms had a negative connotation attached to them,…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Speaking for Freedom On March 23, 1775, in a church in Richmond, Virginia, Patrick Henry speaks at the political event of the Virginia Convention and says his famous quote: “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death” (6). Passionate and willing, Patrick Henry’s “Speech in the Virginia Convention” speech persuades the attendees of the Virginia Convention and urges them to declare war on the British. Patrick Henry effectively persuades the audience at the Virginia Convention through his tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools.…

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Manifestation Of Evil

    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In Paine’s time, the main concern was that of gaining independence from England for the sake of a smaller governing body. Paine was a strong advocate of small government, and even states, “Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worse state an intolerable one” (Paine). Along with the strife between classes of wealth, and how leaders are chosen and other grievances against English rule, Paine uses this essay to covey a need for change for the better. He views England as evil because they are hindering and controlling the development of the American Colonies. According to C. E. Merriam Jr., author of “Thomas Paine’s Political Theories”, “A fundamental distinction in the political theory of Paine is that drawn between society and government.…

    • 1521 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paine Starts by calling out tories and questioning them by asking “Why is it that the enemy have left the New England provinces, and made these middle ones the seat of war?” he then answers that question by saying “New england is not infested with tories, we are” This provokes and angers the colonists by telling them that the biggest obstacle they are facing are there own people who are in the british army. This question is answered with such passion by paine that the tories that were reading this would fear what paine is saying as he tells everyone that they are cowards and severely criticizes them, in order to persuade them that what they are doing is wrong and they should support the fight for freedom. He is able to create an example for the colonists to act toward tories and any tories that heard of this could be frightened out of loyalty to britain because they would be abused if they were to obey the rules of great britain. He also asks “If a thief breaks into my house... and to ‘bind me to all cases whatsoever to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?”…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Common Sense Writing Assignment WHY COMMON SENSE WAS WRITTEN Common Sense was written because Thomas Paine wanted to know what was going on while the thirteen colonies were under British rule. He explained to the Americans that people must retaliate against the unjust ways of King George III. He and the British government passed many laws that were unfair to the Americans.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776): This argument, written by Thomas Paine, was meant to magnify the American Independence and to characterize the differences between the U.S government and society. With Paine being born into the system, he witnessed society being conservative and so constructive that it brought together accomplishments. In April of 1775, began the Revolutionary War, which immediately devoted Paine into the world of politics. It is possible, that this argument was his strongest controversy to seek complete independence for the American Colonist and to cease fighting from the unfairness of the British Taxation.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Age Of Reason Analysis

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The age of the of the puritans is generally characterized by the period from 1546-1660 in the region of New England. Evading the religious restriction from back in england, they ironically subjected their members to similar restrictions, but is the form of fear of acting in certain ways to avoid the callus judgmentalness of its members. Great simplicity was associated with their faith and life style and it could be seen in the structure of literature as well. The period of time that transitioned out of these simplistic methods into more complex and logical ways of life extends Age of Reason Literature from the end of puritanism in 1660 to 1800.The Literature from the Age of Reason is better reflective of the time because the logical structure,…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays