TOW #11 - Patrick Henry

The infamous Patrick Henry; one of the most revolutionary orators in the history of the world. His most famous speech was presented to the members of the House of Representatives on March 23, 1775. Although his primary audience was his fellow house members, I believe that he was directly addressing King George. During 1775 the American colonists were enraged with how the British oppressed them. From paying unnecessary and outrageous taxes during the sugar act, the tea act, and the Townshend acts to housing soldiers in their own homes, one can understand how upset the colonists must have felt.

Patrick Henry was a patriot who was not known to bridle his tongue, which makes his tone so important and influential. Within the first paragraph, Henry states, “… I shall not speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.” He is saying to his audience that he is restraining himself so he doesn’t offend anyone in the house that is a loyalist. He continues to say, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear or giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly things.” In this Patrick Henry is saying that he feels as though that his is betraying his country and God because he is holding back on what he truly wants to say. He goes on to use metaphoric language when he tells his audience of who or what guides him, “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. This helps him prove his purpose that the colonists need to speak up, and that they need to unite instead of fighting for different causes. Throughout the hole speech, Henry tries to refrain from unleashing his true thoughts, but I find it ironic that his last line was, “but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” By the end of his speech, he has let his words flow off of his tongue freely. This speech was not just an informative one, but a battle cry. A battle cry to his fellow patriots and some loyalist, to help show them that the colonist would rather die than be in bondage by the British.