Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

Voltaire, Ashley Period. 6 10-9-12

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death If you had a choice to fight for your freedom, would you still do it if it means risking your own life? “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” a passionate speech by Patrick Henry which indicates independence that is positioned in the Enlightenment time period. Patrick Henry is trying to develop an agreement with aristocracy about the tribulations the people from the time period had to face for their independence. Pre-Revolutionary war, king decrees about the Quartering Act to the British soldiers. Due to the fact that one desires liberty, one has to battle oppressive restrictions. Henry utilizes literary devices such as: appeal to pathos, appeal to logos, and personification which expresses emotions to the audience like fear, strong-willed, and desire to demonstrate the aristocracy on their feelings about having their own liberty and independence. Henry uses the appeal to pathos to formulate one’s dreadfulness and puts one in fear. War is approaching so it places the people in fear. “There is no retreat but in submission and slavery…the war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.” If the people vote to not take part in the war, they become slaves. In Henry’s theory, he’s trying explain that governments should be run by the citizens and all men should have equal rights which refer to the enlightenment time period; receiving freedom and independence. Henry utilizes appeal to logos to convince that the colonists are courageous. The audience is in the state of mind that the colonists are passionate and would dispute for their rights. “There is just a God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.” God provides them with strong people to fight for them and they’ll take their part in war as soldiers. It expresses that the colonists are strong-willed and would accomplish anything to receive liberty for their people. This relates to the enlightenment time period due to

Voltaire, Ashley Period. 6 10-9-12

the fact that instructive in values teaches how to become a better/stronger person and how to have a better government; by that, they labor as one. Henry conducts personification in the speech that state human hopes. The speech releases desire for autonomy and self-government. “Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope?” The colonists are asking if they should be anticipating for something to transpire. This statement refers to having a better government in the enlightenment time period because the colonists are strongly hoping for something superior to occur in their lives. In conclusion, the theme throughout the speech is receiving liberty; being free from oppressive restrictions. The message is revolting; revolting for lack of restrictions. Henry utilized appeal to pathos to make one feel what they are doing is wrong and to make them do the opposite of what they are doing. He used appeal to logos to convince or in other words persuade or influence to revolt for independence. He also uses personification to express a form of a person and to show how one truly feels inside. (Liberty or death). What would you choose?