Rhetorical Analysis of Patrick Henry's Speech Essay Sample

“Give me Liberty or Give me Death!“  Patrick Henry stated. He gave a significant speech to give emphasis on why at least attempting to go to war with the English would be most necessary for America. Patrick Henry used rhetorical questions, exclamation, and negative diction in order to persuade the Virginia Convention and get his word across that going to war was the best decision for the United States.

Henry used negative diction in his famous speech to prove how the need to fight in the war with the English was urgent and serious. Negative diction is language used to express tone as forceful and misleading. For example, He uses words like “ Darken” , “Suffer” , and “ Chains”  in lines 35-50 to demonstrate how the Country will feel if they choose not to attempt going to war with the English. Henry uses those to hopefully try to change the mindset of the people in the Convention and build up the rebel in every last human being standing in that room. He also uses negative diction by using “Violence”, “Painful”, and “ Insult” in lines 20-64  to explain how they would retaliate. These words were used to explain to the people in the convention how they would make the English feel when they finally got their revenge back. He again uses negative diction  by using the words “ Martial,” “War,” “Navies and Armies,” in lines 42-48 to give a solution to this situation. Henry makes an effort to convince the men at the convention that war was the most efficient way to resolve what they were going through with the English. This not only convinces his audience to fight but it also creates rage which builds up fuel to get started. His goal was to persuade his peers that they should do what was best for them and their country, which to him was battling it out for their own sake.

Patrick Henry not only uses negative diction to persuade his audience, he also uses exclamations. Exclamation is used to give emphasis on what is trying to be expressed and he uses this to get the men's attention and also making himself loud and clear.The final statement Henry announced was “ Give me liberty or give me death!” to show how bold he was. He says this to make an example of himself and to show them he was not a quitter nor a fighter and was willing to stand behind his word at all cost. He also states “ The war has actually just begun!” to enlighten his peers. Patrick Henry says this to reveal to the men they were already at war, not literally but the issues between them and the English was warlike and was only the beginning of what he had planned. “ I repeat it, sir, we must fight!”’ This is an example of exclamation because he added extra emphasis on his goal which was to go to war. From his speech men could already interpret he wanted to go to war but he not only repeated himself by saying he wanted war but he added an exclamation. By doing this he exaggerated his point. Patrick Henry was up for a fight and he expressed his word and added emphasis on the points he mainly wanted to accomplish and hoped others would understand as well.

In addition to Patrick Henry using exclamations, he also uses Rhetorical questions to make the men in the convention have thoughts on the plan that he wanted to come forth. Rhetorical questions are used to make a point, the most important part is proving what is being expressed so they require no answer. For instance, in lines 52-53 he states “ Sir, we have been trying for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on this subject?” he wants the men to think about how much they have been through and counter on if they want to continue with the Britains slavery like actions. He also states in lines 22-23 “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for Liberty? The point of this question was to remind the convention that they were extremely intelligent and that having liberty should not have to be a struggle to obtain. He then states in lines “ But when shall we be stronger?” “ Will it be next week or next year?” This question generates hard thinking and helps understand the true reason on why going to war and standing up for themselves would be the most efficient way to overcome their trials and tribulations. Patrick Henry not only wanted his audience to go to war but he wanted them to realize why it was important for them to do so for not only themselves but their Country.