Combination of Pathos and Logos in Patrick Henry’s Speeches

British occupation is to keep control over the colonists. As he goes on in his speech, he says 'Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on their patriotism and pride as leaders of colonial America.

Throughout his speech, Henry justifies his argument for going to war, by logically explaining himself to the leaders of the American colonies. Obviously “men often see the same subject in a different light.” Therefore, Patrick Henry uses this in a step-by-step explanation of why he believes that the colonies should join together in revolt. He states that, because men have different views, he wishes to express his own, without “being thought disrespectful,” to anyone in the House. This shows his call on logos because he logically goes through a process of explaining why his opinion matters monumentally to the House. Continuing, he asserts that because he has an outlook on the topic, he, therefore, should express that viewpoint, or he would consider himself, “guilty of treason.” He believes he would be hurting his country by not standing to assist it in the way he sees best. In addition to the previous example, as Henry is speaking, he asks, “What means this martial array?” then answers in the same sentence, “clearly its purpose be to force us to submission.” The question of why Britain would want to have a military presence in the colonies is made to seem logically answered by stating that the to not be free, would be worse than death. Therefore, according to Patrick Henry’s logical argument, and substitution, they must revolt, or face a condition worse than death.

Pathos or, playing on the emotions of the leaders of colonial America, is another tactic Henry draws on to convince them that revolution is essential. He uses the patriotism and pride of the colonial leaders to make them see how the British crown is taking away their natural rights as human beings. He states that outsiders say the colonies are “weak” because they would be “unable to cope with Britain as their adversary.” The leaders of the colonies are not used to being called weak, because they are of the upper classes of the Americas. Therefore this would ignite them to revolution because the British would be against them, they who had dared question the strength of the members of the colonial Americas. Also, this statement of colonial American weakness would make the members of the House feel slighted because they have been working towards strengthening the Americas, and saying they are weak is saying they are failing as leaders of the colonies. Furthermore, Patrick Henry continues to excite the emotions of the House of Burgesses, stating that they have been “slighted” and their “supplications… disregarded.” Thus, Henry proclaims out loud one of the emotions that the House members are feeling at this time, making it more real unto the members, because they no realize that they have been “slighted.” Without the proper representation, and without the right to have their voice heard, Henry argues through emotional ploys that the only justifiable action would be to fight in the war that has “actually begun,” to protect their rights, and fight for liberty, or die trying.

Finally, in Patrick Henry’s famous words, he decrees, “give me liberty, or give me death!” This statement of absolute dedication to his cause is a combination of pathos and logos. Henry is playing on the patriotism of the colonial leaders, by stating he is ready to die for his cause. This would make the members of the house introspective and look into their hearts to see if they are ready to die for their cause. Henry excites fear by stating he is so passionately ready to sacrifice for his country. This play towards pathos, or appealing to the audience’s emotions, is an effective way of trying to convince the House to go to war against Britain. This pathos combined with the logic of Henry’s speech makes for a convincing argument. Logically taking the house step by step from stating that because he has an outlook on their situation, he should express it to them, to stating his argument before the House, to saying that lacking freedom is worse then death, then taking it full circle pronouncing he would prefer to be “given death” than to have his freedom taken away by the British.