Patrick Henry Ethos In Speech To The Virginia Convention

“Trust it not sir it will prove a snare to your feet”(Henry 102). In other words don’t trust the British owing to the fact in the end they will harm you. That was a quote from Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention during the mid 1700’s. The purpose of his speech was not to compromise with the British but to take up arms. Patrick Henry was a representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Mr. Henry enjoyed oratory which is a a religious society of priest for private worship. He also loved anything involving the law. Patrick Henry delivered the speech to the Virginia Convention using the compelling technique of pathos to convince the delegates to proceed to war with the British and fight for their country.
Pathos is the use

of appeals to emotion. Mr. Henry used pathos to make the delegates show emotion and get into their minds. “I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery” (Henry 102). And by that Patrick is saying that we need to fight for our freedom seeing as the British will take over and that will lead to slavery. This quote would have terrified the delegates. Creating fear in their minds.Pathos is also present in this quote due to the fact that Patrick wanted to get more emotions out of the delegates. “Are we disposed having eyes, see not and having ears, hear not” (Henry 102). What he means is the colonist are being blinded by the British and they can’t see or hear what they are doing to them. This statement would have affected the colonist in a very negative way. They more than likely felt anger towards the British which pushed them even more over the edge. Ultimately, using the persuasive technique of pathos influenced the delegates to fight.
In conclusion Patrick Henry’s compelling technique of pathos in his speech persuaded the delegates to rise against the British. By giving them an alternative of freedom and slavery. And proving that they were being blinded by the British. Henry’s speech was effective because in the end they went to war and the outcome was astounding.