Andy CampbellMrs. NogarrAP English 3, Period 6September 4th, 2013

Title: Speech to the Virginia Convention

Author: Patrick Henry

Discussed: September 4th, 2013

Pathos: “I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is

left us! … There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their

clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it,

sir, let it come.” (Paragraph 3,4)

Rhetorical Questions: “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?

Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back

our love? … But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be

when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall

we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?” (Paragraph 3,4)

Patrick Henry played a very prominent role in the movement for independence in the

American Revolution. In the spring of 1775, Patrick Henry met with members of the second

Virginia Convention to discuss the need for a military mobilization against the British. Speaking

with passion and fervor, he delivered a powerful, now-famous speech that persuaded

opponents of the Revolution to unite and fight for freedom. Taking advantage of growing

patriotic sentiment, Henry provided the last straw for remaining loyal to Britain and convinced

many that a war would be inevitable. To persuade his audience, Henry mainly relies on pathos

or appeals to emotion, to strengthen his position. This is demonstrated in: “I repeat it, sir, we

must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! … There is no retreat

but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains

of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.” His energetic and

enthusiastic tone established in his excerpt serves to evoke passion in the hearts of the

listeners. An important element is the mention of God; Henry implies that God is on the

colonist’s side, and thus the colonists have a moral obligation to fight the war. This philosophy

would become an important motivator for soldiers in the war. Later, Henry compares Britain’s

authority to the chains of slavery. This reinforces the view that Britain lacks empathy for

colonists; Henry asserts that Britain only sees America as an economic extension of their

empire. As colonists at the time were beginning to feel more like independent citizens, and not

British subjects, these claims resonated in the hearts of the listeners. He also references Boston

in this excerpt because Boston was the center of colonial resistance. Perhaps Henry wants to

remind the audience of the Boston Massacre, in which British soldiers fired into a protesting

crowd, to demonstrate his claim that Britain is careless to the colonist’s cause. Also noteworthy

is the repetition of “We must fight” and “Let it come”. This illustrates Henry’s thesis and leaves

the listener with something to ponder, and highlights the urgency of the situation to stimulate

an emotional reaction from the listeners.

In addition to emotional appeal, Henry also utilizes rhetorical questions extensively. For

example, he asks “Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have

we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our

love?” He proposes these questions to the audience as to point out they British fleets and

armies are not on American soil to maintain peace or to protect the citizens, but to suppress

the colonists. This justifies Henry’s demands to go to war. Henry uses rhetorical questions

throughout the piece, to engage the audience and stir up emotional reactions. Sometimes he

uses them to propose drastic situations, in the case of “But when shall we be stronger? Will it

be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British

guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?”

The mention of a British guard in every home alludes to the Quartering Act, in which British

soldiers could legally take shelter in anyone’s home. Henry brings this up to instill fear into the

audience, as to suggest what Britain will do if the colonists do nothing to stop them. He

presents them in a way that implies they will be a threat to society. He then quells their fears by

building up the audience’s confidence in the next paragraphs, to elicit strong patriotic and

nationalistic emotions. This is an effective technique: he casts the British in a negative light to

make the audience fear them, and then offers a solution to make the audience more trusting of

Henry, thus strengthening the portrayal of the British as oppressor, and Henry as the hero.

Henry’s use of rhetorical questions reinforces his view that the country must go to war.