Patrick Henry: An Important Patriot's Persuasive Words | Patrick Henry: An Important Patriot's Persuasive Words

One of the most famous speeches in the history of the United States is Patrick Henry's "liberty or death" speech. In Henry's speech, he tries to persuade the delegation to vote to join the fight for freedom. After Henry's speech, the convention realized the subject at hand was inevitable and that the vote to join the other colonies in armed rebellion against England was more important than ever. Henry used a martial point of view to express his supplication to the convention. Henry talks about how important joining the Revolution is and why, then he summarizes futile actions the Colonies have taken already, and finally he exhorts fellow delegates to vote to join in the fight for independence.

In the opening lines Henry talks about how important joining the Revolution is and why. He says that we have a choice either "liberty or slavery" (81), to emphasize one of the importance's in joining the fight by using an antithesis, so the audience could contrast the two things. Henry uses another antithesis to express the future if they do not

stand their ground and fight. He says, "Gentlemen may cry peace, but there is no peace, the war is actually begun" (83). This means that no matter what choice they make, the revolution will rise with or with out Virginia in the battle for freedom. To highlight the struggle for independence and the importance, Henry uses a rhetorical question to illustrate the convention's decisions if they do not join. He says, "is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty" (81). In his opening remarks, Henry makes it known that he respects the views of his audience. In return, his listeners focus and consider Henry's point of view on joining the revolution.

In the second part of his speech, Henry summarizes futile actions the Colonies have already taken. He employs parallel structures to explain what they have already done. He says, "our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance's have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne" (82). The use of the emotionally charged words "betrayed with a kiss" (81), symbolizes when Judas betrayed Jesus and the worst sin ever. Henry explains how the convention should not trust England or England might be insidious about their actions. Henry used anaphora when he was speaking of all the actions the colonies have taken already to rebel. He repeats the words "we have..." (82) to remind his audience of the decisions and accomplishments made.

Henry finishes his speech exhorting fellow delegates to vote to join the fight for independence. He includes metaphors as a comparison saying one thing is another to make the reason for fighting more captivating. He uses the metaphor "our chains are forged" (82) to attract his audience's attention in the final section of his speech. To wrap up his speech, Henry uses a final strong appeal to emotion. He uses onomatopoeias, words that represent sounds, to illustrate the sounds of war or slavery. The sound of slavery is the "clanking" (82) sound of chains. The sound of war would be a "clash" (83) for the resounding arms! Henry then uses a powerful conclusion, "give me liberty, or give me death" (83), which was the climax for his motivating speech.

With his powerful way of persuasion in the speech, Henry convinced the delegation to vote to arm its people against England, and on April 19, 1775, the battle of Lexington, Massachusetts, ignited the Revolutionary War. The speech was based on persuasion and today we now know in the final analysis, audiences are often won over by the speakers ability to address their concerns as much as by forceful arguments and a dominant personality.