Rationalism: Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry’s speech, given at the Second Virginia Convention, was anything but dull. He proudly spoke his opinion throughout the piece as a way to engage his audience. His main reasons for this speech were to engage and persuade the officials that the colonists need to go to war. Although most of Henry’s speech is opinion and emotion, he is able to explain his case respectfully. He prefaces his speech by saying, “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve” (Henry 116). Most importantly, Patrick Henry was able to back up his information. He explained how the petition the colonists created was disregarded and their protests were ignored. This speech was the final way to share the way he felt. He tried his hardest to explain to listeners that if they didn’t prepare for war now, the English would be quick to attack. He claims, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven” (Henry 117). Although God is discussed in the last quote, Patrick Henry really doesn’t talk about God in his speech. Religion was no longer the basis for the colonists’ actions. Because he is taking control of a situation and trying to change things himself, Henry’s speech is more of an example of Rationalism instead of Puritan. He is making his own decisions and not focusing so much on what the Bible would have wanted. His sentence structure is also a lot more compound than would have used by the Puritans. 


Another source of pure emotion and opinion is John Edwards’ sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Both men try to threaten their audiences into getting what they want. Edwards says, 

But here you are in the land of the living, and in the house of God, and have a opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned, helpless souls give for one day’s such opportunity as you know enjoy. (Edwards 99)

The statement shows that the message Edwards was sending was great, but his approach came off as threatening. In most cases, however, the statements made by John Edwards were opinioned and threatening. Sometimes an angry approach works when you are trying to get your way, but in Edwards’ case, I believe more people would have been more apprehensive than persuaded. His sermon tries to literally “put the fear of God” into the church members. This approach would scare me away much faster than it would resonate in me. John Edwards also manages to use faulty logic in his sermon. He uses harsh humor and name calling which were supposed to support his opinion, but instead they just made his speech look very unprofessional and disrespectful. 


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. 116-118. Print.


Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.