February 13 Minutes

Today in class we began discussing Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." A few key points we discussed are:

1. The work was given in a speech. This allowed Patrick Henry to add extra emotion and to employ what speed of delivery and what emphasis he wanted.
2. It doesn't follow the Neoclassic form. It is not orderly or listed because that is too rational of a format and not emotional enough. It also doesn't have long sentences in order to keep information easy to understand so that he can get his points across quickly.
3. It uses the device of rhetorical questions to force his audience to give the answer Patrick Henry wants.
4. It alludes to God to show that God is on his side and against the enemy (British).
5. It gives the audience fear which is a top motive for people's actions.
6. It gives the audience no other choice than revolution or submission.
7. It didn't follow the tenets of Deism because Deism is only found among the upper class. Patrick Henry said that God was on his side to get his followers into his cause rather than using the clockmaker idea of Deism. It is more emotional and effective.

The audiences addressed by this work are the nationals and the allies. It tells the nationals that it is time to fight and gives them a call to arms. It tells the allies that their advantages for being on Patrick Henry's side are being on God's side, having freedom, and not being punished for not being with him.

This work contrasts with Benjamin Franklin's work in a few ways. Patrick Henry has already made the decision to revolt. There is no other option and nothing can be reconciled. On the other hand Benjamin Franklin wants to fix things with the British and believes things can still be solved.

--Alexis