Give me Freedom or Give Death by Patric Henry

887 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on women activism

Throughout his speech, Henry referenced a variety of Biblical themes. What are some of the most striking references Henry used? Why would these themes have resonated with his audience? This speech is timeless and would stir the patriotic spirit in many people. The message it contains can work for us today as well as it did for the colonists it was originally written for. Throughout time none of the power in this speech has diminished. It was a call for a young nation to say enough and stand up and fight for the liberty they so desired and deserved. The first paragraph tells us the reason he chose to use such delightful and colorful biblical references in his speech. Though he does not say the scripture verbatim, Mr. Henry’s makes adequate use of many strong themes that are in the Bible. From his first words that people of the colonies are told that their duty is to God first and the country second. Patrick Henry even alludes to the fact that if he did not speak on the matter then he would not be honoring God or doing the right thing for his country. But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men”. Mr. Henry says, “having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not”. Jesus says, “This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving”. The people were hoping that if they did not see the problem it would go away and they would not have to do anything about it. Is it possible that Patrick Henry spoke this way not because he followed ... ... middle of paper ... ...ut Christian and believer in Christ. He was also a man who loved his country and was willing to fight for every man to have life, freedom and to be happy. It is apparent that even though he put God first he also did not neglect his duties as an American. He managed to put bother his love of God and fire in one speech which is now one of the greatest speeches that is part of our America heritage. The last line of the speech is,”Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. “ Works Cited Patrick Henry. Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death. Virginia, March 23, 1773 Ibid Acts 5:29 John 3:16 (KJV) Mark 13: 13,14 (KJV) Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of 1776 By David Mccullough

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    “… no ordinary man. He had a quick, inquiring mind and uncommon resolve. He was extremely hardworking, forthright, good-natured, and a born leader. His commitment to the Glorious Cause of America, as it was called, was total. And if his youth was obvious, the Gl...

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry Rhetorical Analysis

    288 Words  | 1 Pages

    Henry uses logos to appeal the colonists. An example of this is, “Has Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for this accumulation of navies and armies… it is meant for us.” This appeals to the colonists because it logical, why else would Britain have their military over here? Henry make it seem like there is only one logical answer. Henry uses rhetorical

    Read More

  • Comparing Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention: Who Made the Best Argument?

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jonathan Edwards creates a more effective argument for the intended audience in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” than “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” written by Patrick Henry, by utilizing various techniques. Patrick Henry makes a strong argument however in the end, Edwards’ sermon grows to be more effective. Edwards creates the argument by strengthening the writing through tone, structure, fallacies and knowledge of the congregation that became his audience. Henry’s piece uses methods of oratory persuasion but the actual topic of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” has an advantage from the start by appealing to fear, a fallacy of logic. Even with the strong basis “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry, Edwards’ “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” proves the more effective piece in the end.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Patrick Henry

    442 Words  | 1 Pages

    The first appeal that Henry uses in his speech is ethos which appeals to ethics. Evidence from the text is, “fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country” (lines 13-14). This shoes that God has credibility. It also shows that you need to respect God over Britain. The next piece of evidence that I found in the speech is whenever the text said, “…and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings” (lines 16-17). This is saying that you should respect God above man. That is two ways how Henry used the ethical appeal, ethos.

    Read More

  • Exit to Freedom by Calvin Johnson

    1059 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the summer of 1984, Calvin Johnson trudges knee deep through a swamp in the wetlands of South Georgia. As snakes brush past his legs, he marches in line with nine other men, each dressed in an orange jumpsuit, swinging a razor sharp bush axe in collective rhythm. His crew entered the swamp at dawn and they will not leave until dusk. Guards, armed with shotguns, and equally violent tempers, ignore the fact that the temperature has risen well above 100 degrees and push the men even harder. Suddenly, an orange blur falls to the ground and a prisoner from Wayne Correctional Institution lies face down in the swampy floor. As guards bark orders at the unconscious, dying man, Johnson realizes "the truth of the situation, and the force of injustice just incapacitates" him. It is then he decides he does not belong in the swamp.

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry Anti Federalist Argument Analysis

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Patrick Henry’s Anti-Federalist argument had a big purpose when it was wrote. It was Henry’s way of talking about his objections to the new Constitution. He listed varies objection to the constitution and stated reasoning behind his objections to make others see his point. Henry was a liberal activist. He wrote his document in first person. The audience for his stated was for the general public. The general public that this would have been in interest to was the government, anti-federalists, the state, and any adult in general.

    Read More

  • David Ortiz And Baseball

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...oing to dictate our freedom: stay strong!” (Fox News Latino). His patriotic speech will forever be remembered because it was something positive for Bostonians to think about despite recent events. His patriotism is the ultimate illustration of the values the United States of America was founded on: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Slauter).

    Read More

  • Patrick Henry: Fight against the Constitution

    515 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Constitution took away the power from the states, ignored the South, and didn't protect the people it represented. To Patrick Henry, these were big mistakes and couldn't put his support behind them. When the power is taken away from the states, it makes the federal government very strong. He knew that there had to be a strong central government, but felt that the Constitution went too far. Henry wanted to protect the South. After all, at that time the South was more than half the country. If the country at that time was compared to a human body, the South was the heart of the country.

    Read More

  • Thirteen Days by Robert F. Kennedy

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thirteen days is a historical account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is told from the perspective of Robert F. Kennedy, senator and brother to President John F. Kennedy. It is an account of the thirteen days in October of 1962. It lasted from the 16th to the 28th. During this time many crucial events in United States.

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass

    1714 Words  | 4 Pages

    As time progressed Henry also thought of the injustice in working and paying the wages he had earned to a master who had no entitlement to them whatsoever. In slavery he had been unable to question anything of his masters doing. He was unable to have rage, sadness, or even sickness, for he would be b...

    Read More

  • Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and a reason to fight in the Civil War. Before the address, the Civil War was based on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were instilled in the Declaration of Independence by the Founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states’ rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war about slavery he effortlessly ensured that no foreign country would recognize the South as an independent nation, ensuring Union success in the war. In his speech, Lincoln used the rhetorical devices of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, to touch the hearts of its listeners.

    Read More

  • Henry VIII’s Desire for a Divorce as the Sole Cause of the English Reformation

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    that God was punishing him as he was living in sin. Henry was a pious

    Read More

  • Barack Obama: A More Perfect Union

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    Opening with "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.” conveys an image of the constitution for the purpose of the speech; what comes next is “Two hundred and twenty one years ago,” an opening that places him in the tradition of Lincoln at Gettysburg and Dr. King at the Lincoln Memorial “Five score years ago.” Concentrating on the nation’s misunderstanding and miscommunication connected to racism in America.

    Read More

  • Death, Be Not Proud by John Donne

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    In John Donne’s sonnet “Death, Be Not Proud” death is closely examined and Donne writes about his views on death and his belief that people should not live in fear of death, but embrace it. “Death, Be Not Proud” is a Shakespearean sonnet that consists of three quatrains and one concluding couplet, of which I individually analyzed each quatrain and the couplet to elucidate Donne’s arguments with death. Donne converses with death, and argues that death is not the universal destroyer of life. He elaborates on the conflict with death in each quatrain through the use of imagery, figurative language, and structure. These elements not only increase the power of Donne’s message, but also symbolize the meaning of hope of eternal life as the ultimate escape to death.

    Read More

  • The Dramatic and Poetic Impact of "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" in "King Henry IV"

    371 Words  | 1 Pages

    This uncertainty and doubt in which the King speaks would relate to characteristics of a weak leader. `One might read the book of fate' indicating to us that if he knew what may happen then he would do things differently. For instance that once again Northumberland won't turn up to battle and instead flee for protection in Scotland. The moment King Henry refers to the book he acknowledges that there is a greater power than himself. The kingdom that he rules using a `body upon rank diseases grow' as a metaphor to describe the state of it. It is a country in which he expects to see a `revolution of the times'.

    Read More

More about Give me Freedom or Give Death by Patric Henry

Open Document