Speech to the Virginia Convention Journal

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Speech to the Virginia Convention - Patrick Henry Part 1: Rhetorical Question "Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconcilation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love?" - Paragraph 3 Part 2: Allusion "Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss....Let us not deceive ourselves, sir." - Paragraph 2 Patrick Henry was a revolutionary orator advocating for the independence in Virginia during the 1700's. In "the Speech to the Virginia Convention," Henry implored the audience to seriously consider preparing Virginia for the imminent revolution. During his speech, he addresses the audience several times with rhetorical questions. He leaves the audience questioning what action to take. "Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconcilation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love?" - Paragraph 3. Henry asks each and every one of the audience members what role have they done in this revolution, what drastic thing have they done to force the British to intervene in their home? Have they not compromised enough with the British and have they have used physical force to restrain them? To me, this quote was extremely sarcastic because Henry wants revolution, but he almost seems to be blaming it on the Americans. Its almost like he is saying that it is too late to turn back, and that they will either have to fight back to the British or allow themselves to be under a tyranny again. To make his argument stand out, Henry alludes to the Bible. "Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss....Let us not deceive ourselves, sir." - Paragraph 2. When Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Romans, the Romans told Judas to identify Jesus by giving him a kiss on the cheek. After Judas kissed Jesus, the
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