Patrick Henry's famous address to the Virginia Convention
in which he displays his indomitable spirit stands as an example of superb oratory as
Henry makes appeals to ethos, logos, and
finally pathos.
After his appeal to
patriotism, Henry states that the question before the convention is one of freedom or
slavery, a question that requires the freedom of debate. In a restatement of the
concept of debate, Henry contends,
It is only in this way [freedom of debate] that
we can hope to arrive at truth, and full the great responsibility which we hold to God
and our country.
Henry
expresses his concern that the representatives "indulge in the illusions of hope. In a
restatement of this idea, he alludes to The Odyssey and the Bible's
Book of Ezekiel (12:2):
We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful
truth, and listen to the song of that siren...Is this the part of wise men?...who,
having eyes, see not and having ears, hear not the things which so nearly concern their
temporal salvations?
Henry
appeals to the convention that if they wish to be free, they must fight. He
states,
The
battle sir is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the
brave....There is no retreat, but in submission and
slavery!
Then, Henry insists
that the battle has already begun, restating that they must
fight,
The war
is actually begun!...Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here
idle!
The great statesman
urges his listeners to act quickly, and not allow themselves to be subjugated to Great
Britain. Finally, Henry convinces many with his famous concluding
appeal,
I know
not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me
death!
This final emotional
appeal that demonstrates Henry's indomitable spirit is a most effective call to
action.
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