Patrick Henry's speech is a very good example of a Rationalism piece of writing from the Enlightenment period in American culture. The Enlightenment was a time when people moved away from the religious ideals and theological government with the idea that logical and rational thinking can explain everything (Divine). As science became a bigger thing, and religion took a back seat (the Great Awakening did occur toward the end of the Enlightenment period, but as religion became popular in society and not in the government or thinking, religion was no longer a factor in political life) as the colonies moved to unification and toward the Revolutionary War (Divine). I am concurrently learning about this time period in AP United States History, therefore have a nice background into this particular time period of American history.
One Rationalistic view was of the monarch's right to "absolute power of their country" (Boucquey). Patrick Henry showed that view point in part of his speech: "Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort." (Henry 117). That quote exemplifies Patrick Henry's rationalism towards England and the king. He believes that the king is just using his military power as a last resort to get what he wants. The king's needs might not be what is best for the kingdom, provinces, or colonies, but because he thinks they are necessary then the king's word is final. Henry and other Enlightened people realized that the monarch's ultimate ruling power was not acceptable and started to do things about it. Patrick Henry used the power of rhetoric, debate, and emotional power to get his meaning across.
Another Rational influence on Patrick Henry's speech was his use of rhetorical questions that urged the audience to think for themselves and even though the answer was obvious or answered later in the speech, to give the audience the self confidence and morale boost that comes with the feeling of knowing something right or the answer to a question. Henry asks, "What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?" (Henry 118). The two questions prompt an emotional response in the audience who want to yell back, "Freedom!" or "Independence!" or something along the lines of the end of British influence and to go back to a solitary colony ignored by the mother country. The last line of Patrick Henry's speech answers his rhetorical question. "... but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" (Henry 118).
Patrick Henry's ideas still are true today in this modern technological world. Rationalism is still a big part of today's literature and media. Many newspapers write their views of the political system with different rhetorical questions. While the majority of the newspapers are not technically committing treason or treason like offenses with their articles like Henry did, they are still expressing their opinions. Science is being used to explain phenomena that used to be associated with religion and God. As long as science still determines what is "real" or "not real", the Rationalist period continues onward.
Boucquey, Thierry, gen. ed. "Rationalism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 14th through 18th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web 21. Sept. 2011.
Divine, Robert A., T. H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, R. Hal Williams, H. W. Brands, and Ariela J. Gross. America Past and Present AP Edition. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print.
Henry, Patrick. "Speech to the Second Virginia Convention." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.
One Rationalistic view was of the monarch's right to "absolute power of their country" (Boucquey). Patrick Henry showed that view point in part of his speech: "Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort." (Henry 117). That quote exemplifies Patrick Henry's rationalism towards England and the king. He believes that the king is just using his military power as a last resort to get what he wants. The king's needs might not be what is best for the kingdom, provinces, or colonies, but because he thinks they are necessary then the king's word is final. Henry and other Enlightened people realized that the monarch's ultimate ruling power was not acceptable and started to do things about it. Patrick Henry used the power of rhetoric, debate, and emotional power to get his meaning across.
Another Rational influence on Patrick Henry's speech was his use of rhetorical questions that urged the audience to think for themselves and even though the answer was obvious or answered later in the speech, to give the audience the self confidence and morale boost that comes with the feeling of knowing something right or the answer to a question. Henry asks, "What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?" (Henry 118). The two questions prompt an emotional response in the audience who want to yell back, "Freedom!" or "Independence!" or something along the lines of the end of British influence and to go back to a solitary colony ignored by the mother country. The last line of Patrick Henry's speech answers his rhetorical question. "... but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" (Henry 118).
Patrick Henry's ideas still are true today in this modern technological world. Rationalism is still a big part of today's literature and media. Many newspapers write their views of the political system with different rhetorical questions. While the majority of the newspapers are not technically committing treason or treason like offenses with their articles like Henry did, they are still expressing their opinions. Science is being used to explain phenomena that used to be associated with religion and God. As long as science still determines what is "real" or "not real", the Rationalist period continues onward.
Boucquey, Thierry, gen. ed. "Rationalism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 14th through 18th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web 21. Sept. 2011.
Divine, Robert A., T. H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, R. Hal Williams, H. W. Brands, and Ariela J. Gross. America Past and Present AP Edition. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print.
Henry, Patrick. "Speech to the Second Virginia Convention." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.
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