Patrick Henry's speech
Patrick Henry's speech�Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice;
It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.
__W. J. Bryan ___Speech, 1899
What are the people of the United States really fighting for? What are we willing to give
to protect the United States of America much like Patrick Henry so many years ago? What do
freedom and liberty mean to the people? Patrick Henry refers to liberty and freedom in his
speech to the Virginia Convention of 1775. Patrick Henry refers to the people with the meaning
that destiny is not a choice but a must. Destiny has to be achieved not waited for. Henry shows
that his destiny is to defeat his enemy, Great Britain. Patrick Henry uses logic and reasoning and
shows self-confidence in his persuasive speech to the Virginia Convention.
Through his persuasive word choice, Patrick Henry shows that he is a self-confident
eighteenth century rationalist. �I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without
reserve�(88). Patrick Henry implies that he is going to speak without restraint, he will say what he
thinks, and that no one is forcing him to say the things he is going to say. Henry knows that if he
does not speak what he thinks he could be held guilty of treason. Henry shows that he is self-
confident because he is going to follow through with his beliefs. Henry knows that if he is self
confident he can do anything, Henry states; �I have one lamp by which my feet are
guided and that is the lamp of experience�(88). What Henry is really trying to say is, �I know
of no way of judging of the future but by the past, I wish to know what there has been of the
British ministry for the last ten years�(90). Henry states, �I repeat it, sir, we must fight�(90).
Henry shows that the people of the congress must not be a coward but they must stand up and
fight for themselves, and this is showing that the rationalist of the eighteenth century are self
confident because they are going to stand up and fight the British without holding back.
Through his persuasive writing style, Patrick Henry shows that his eighteenth century
Curry2
rationalist belief is on logic and reasoning. Patrick Henry is trying to be reasonable with his
enemy, he states, �We have petitioned, we have remonstrated, we have supplicated�(90).
To reword what Henry has said, the people of the congress including Henry himself have
already tried to appeal, they have nicely asked for peace, and they have also tried to pray that
the British will comply with reasonable request but the British still refuse. Henry also states,
�Sir we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming�
(90). Patrick Henry and the rest of the congress have no other choice but to argue or war.
Patrick Henry says, �Shall we try argument�(90)? Henry addresses the congress with the
choice of argument with the British; the congress does not refuse because they are tired
themselves of dealing with the British ministry. The congress wants to end the rival with Great
Britain.
�I repeat it, sir, we must fight�(90). Patrick Henry is not willing to let the British
ministry get by so easily. Patrick Henry has made many reasonable requests to change the mind
setting of having a war but the British just do not want to change. Patrick Henry knows that if
there is a war he will not have a good chance in beating it, but he still is self confident that he can
win the war with the British ministry. Henry says, �The war is inevitable�and let it
come, I repeat it, sir, let it come�(90).