“Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.” (Bob Marley)
Whether on the eve of a revolution, being oppressed by a slave master, or marching in the streets protesting, humans have always craved freedom. In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, he states it as bluntly as he can “Give me Liberty, or give me death.” When he gave this notable speech it answered the Americans’ natural desire for independence and his words still apply today. Henry gave his speech to the Virginia Convention on the eve of a revolution. The colonies were unhappy with Britain with their taxation without representation and the importation of troops, but the colonists did not want to start a war. Peaceful letters were sent to Parliament complaining and asking for compromises. Patrick Henry is addressing specifically President Peyton Randolph. He respectfully …show more content…
Henry’s goal was to unite the thirteen colonies together and to but ties with Britain. The opening introduction to his speech does not discredit other colonists plans to deal with Britain but he starts to separate his ideas from theirs. Henry establishes his ethos by giving multiple allusions to the bible. He positions himself as a Christian expressing religious passion fighting for God. He references the bible saying, “different men often see the same subject in different lights” (Henry). The uses the word “light” in combination with the allusion to state that he is aligned with God in his views and is fighting for God’s truth. With the colonies being a religious haven free from persecution he connects with the people instantly. Juxtaposition appears when he says ,”I consider it nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery”(Henry) He puts complete opposites close together to show there is
Whether on the eve of a revolution, being oppressed by a slave master, or marching in the streets protesting, humans have always craved freedom. In the “Speech to the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, he states it as bluntly as he can “Give me Liberty, or give me death.” When he gave this notable speech it answered the Americans’ natural desire for independence and his words still apply today. Henry gave his speech to the Virginia Convention on the eve of a revolution. The colonies were unhappy with Britain with their taxation without representation and the importation of troops, but the colonists did not want to start a war. Peaceful letters were sent to Parliament complaining and asking for compromises. Patrick Henry is addressing specifically President Peyton Randolph. He respectfully …show more content…
Henry’s goal was to unite the thirteen colonies together and to but ties with Britain. The opening introduction to his speech does not discredit other colonists plans to deal with Britain but he starts to separate his ideas from theirs. Henry establishes his ethos by giving multiple allusions to the bible. He positions himself as a Christian expressing religious passion fighting for God. He references the bible saying, “different men often see the same subject in different lights” (Henry). The uses the word “light” in combination with the allusion to state that he is aligned with God in his views and is fighting for God’s truth. With the colonies being a religious haven free from persecution he connects with the people instantly. Juxtaposition appears when he says ,”I consider it nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery”(Henry) He puts complete opposites close together to show there is