Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

Would the United States be the same country if it were not for the founding fathers and their contributions? If one removes Patrick Henry out of the equation, the answer could be, ‘Yes’. In the early spring of 1775, Henry met with members of the second Virginia Convention to discuss the need for a military mobilization against the British. He spoke with affinity, avidity, passion, and showed an undeniable support to fight against the English government. He uses allusions, rhetorical questions, and metaphors to effectively persuade opponents and supporters of the Revolution to unite and fight the British for American independence. By using allusions to well-known works such as the bible and The Odyssey, Henry develops credibility as a well-informed and educated speaker. Alluding to the Bible, Henry tries to justify his assertion that the British have betrayed them long ago and warns the audience not “. . . to be betrayed with a kiss”. In the …show more content…
Skillfully, Henry compares Britain to Judas who was an enemy of God, implying that Britain is an enemy of God. He infers that God will not be on England’s side, but that He will fight against Britain and defend the colonies. Henry alludes to Homer’s The Odyssey in the second paragraph of the speech by stating that “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts” The “sirens” were mythical creatures described in Homer’s epic poem that turned anyone listening to their song insane. Alluding to the sirens, Henry masterfully compares England’s oppressions to the sirens, implying that if the oppressions were not ended, the colonists would eventually lose their sanity. He then goes