Paul Revere's Midnight Ride: A Criticism Of

If one were to hear the name “Paul Revere”, the first thing that comes to mind would most likely be his famous Midnight Ride. Those who have had a third grade history lesson would jump to images of Revere riding through Lexington on horseback, shouting warnings about the imminent arrival of the British troops. However, there is more to this historical figure than what is commonly perceived. A member of the Sons of Liberty, Paul Revere delivered countless messages that kept the revolution alive. He created propaganda for the war, such as his much praised Boston Massacre engraving. What was Paul Revere’s most influential feat? Many argue that it was the Midnight Ride that takes the prize, however it was the Massacre engraving that held a deep …show more content…
Revere thought carefully about how to depict the events, even if the final product may not have been necessarily accurate. For one, the colonists are depicted as the victims, when in fact it was they who started the fight. They are shown cowering away from the British soldiers, who aim at them with guns at the ready. The colonists are shown in gentlemen 's’ garments, with soft, delicate features (“Paul Revere’s Engraving - Explained”). Meanwhile, the redcoats are depicted with sharp, harsh-looking faces. A woman is shown looking frightened in the corner, meant to be a play on chivalry. A dog is also added, unphased by the violence (“Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre”). The dog is shown standing on the side of the colonists, and dogs usually represent fidelity and loyalty. This could symbolize the purity of the colonists. Clearly, much thought was put into the outcome of this …show more content…
Soon after the piece was finished, it was printed and advertised in newspapers all across colonial America (“Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre”). Those who had access to newspaper could see the events depicted clearly in front of them, even if they were not there to witness it firsthand. They could then pass on the information to those without access, spreading the news of what had happened like wildfire. This would clearly be an advantage to the patriots, as it’s obvious that the more awareness there is, the bigger the reaction and thus, the action taken more substantial. Unbeknownst to many, there were two other artists, Henry Pelham and Christian Remick, who also created their own pieces for the Massacre (“Paul Revere’s Engraving - Explained”). However, Paul Revere’s engraving was finished faster than the others. It was without a doubt more famous than its competition, shown on display to the public all across the states. How would word of the Massacre have gotten to all the states, even out of country, without Paul Revere? The simple answer is that it would have taken a slower amount of time to do so, and by then it might have been too late for the