Rhetorical+Devices

 **Rhetorical Devices**

**__Imagery__** “Yet it is folly to argue against determined hardness; eloquence may strike the ear, and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice”


 * This comment by Paine is used to describe the stubborn bias of the Tories towards Britain. A Tory in revolutionary America was one who sided with Britain and did not promote revolutionary efforts of the colonists. Paine singles out Tories as weaklings, saying "Your conduct is an invitation to the enemy, yet not one in a thousand of you has heart enough to join him."
 * Here, Paine contrasts between Tories, whose hearts are "steeled" against the rhetoric of revolutionary fighters, and his fellow countrymen, who are inspired to give their lives to promote the cause of freedom.

“By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils- a ravaged country- a depopulated city- habitations without safety, and slavery without hope- our homes turned into barracks and bawdy-houses for Hessians”


 * Paine uses this descriptive language to paint a clear picture of an America that does not fight back against the oppressive British opponent.
 * Though it may be somewhat exaggerated, Paine gets the point across that submission to Britain is not an option




 * __Rhetorical questions__**

“Why is it that the enemy have left the New England provinces, and made these middle ones the seat of war?”


 * Paine responds that the middle colonies are "infested with Tories," whom General Howe expects to recruit for the British Army
 * This is meant to enrage the common colonist; Britain is enlisting Americans in their army and attacking in America's most vulnerable region

“but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them?”


 * This rhetorical question is also saturated with emotional appeal -- one can almost imagine Paine's pure anger in writing this
 * Paine repeats the theme of slavery in allegiance to the Crown ("bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will), which is also present in the Speech to the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry (For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery).

**__Personification__**

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth."


 * What this quote is trying to say is that we value only things that cost us dearly. Paine emphasizes this point because in his eyes he believes that the struggle for freedom from Britain will be worth it and they (the colonists) must not give up the fight.


 * Paine is personifying Britain as a woman, because it adds on to the fact that they are being oppressed by a woman, and will light a fire under the colonists so that they will have the will and want to fight for their freedom and show Britain that they will not stand down and be ruled by a tyrannical government as they had been for so many years.

**__Historical Allusions__**

"...and in the fourteenth [fifteenth] century the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc."


 * Here, Paine implies that although the colonists may be disorganized, and their army smaller than Britain's, they have a chance of victory if they fight with determination and purpose.
 * Joan of Arc led battles in the Hundred Years War in 1429 before being captured and burned at the stake.
 * Paine: "Would that heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen"

"Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER""


 * Paine is referring to the Declaratory Act of 1766, which repealed the hated Stamp Act but also gave Britain absolute free control over laws governing the colonies.
 * Paine: "If being bound in that manner is not slavery, then there is not such a thing as slavery upon earth."
 * The author is trying to express the magnitude and implications of this legislation; it basically authorizes a dictatorship of Britain over the colonies

**__Biblical references__**

"Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but **“show your faith by your works,”** that God may bless you.


 * "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:14-17)
 * Paine is saying that the colonists cannot achieve anything by simply wishing for better circumstances. They must take action and fight to make a change and rid themselves of the tyranny of England.

"It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both. Howe's first object is, partly by threats and partly by promises, to terrify or seduce the people to deliver up their arms and receive mercy. The ministry recommended the same plan to Gage, and this is what the Tories call making their peace, **"a peace which passeth all understanding"** indeed! A peace which would be the immediate forerunner of a worse ruin than any we have yet thought of."


 * "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
 * Paine is being sarcastic here. By giving up their arms, the revolutionaries are giving up all means of resistance, whether it be from aggressive Indian tribes, other states, or the British themselves. There can be no peace if the colonists cannot protect themselves.

**__Ethos__** Thomas Paine, a Deist, has strong convictions that God will help the people of America through these troubling times.

"...but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war..."

"...and I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign dominion."


 * Paine argues that America will succeed in this conflict because it would simply not be right that men with good intentions would fail. He believes that God, being righteous and purely good, would never allow the oppressive British to destroy the weak colonists.



**__Logos__** The author appeals to logic to persuade the reader that fighting back is the best course of action.

"...but it will not do to sacrifice a world either to their folly or their baseness. The period is now arrived, in which either they [Tories] or we must change our sentiments, or one or both must fall."


 * Here, Paine is saying that if neither the revolutionaries nor the Tories want to compromise, they must engage each other in battle. Both sides cannot coexist in America; the people must be either loyal to Britain or independent as a new nation.

"It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war..."


 * The author argues that the colonists cannot expect Britain to act kindly in dealing with the revolutionaries, especially since Britain initiated the conflict by refusing to represent America in Parliament. They are trying to stifle the rebellion, not negotiate.

**__Pathos__** Thomas Paine uses emotional and inspirational rhetoric to instill confidence into the average colonist, and to convince him that war against Britain is necessary and winnable.

"The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

"By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue..."

"Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man"

"Quitting this class of men, I turn with the warm ardor of a friend to those who have nobly stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it."

Thomas Paine uses a short narrative detailing the particulars of an event such as the story of the tavern keeper at Amboy. Paine was disgusted that the tavern owner did not consider his child's interests first when speaking of peace, only thinking of himself.
 * __Anecdote__**

"I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty. Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America."



Thomas Paine uses aphorism as a truth described as a pithy short saying. The validity of an aphorism is a product of experience-not methodological testing. Typically applied to arts and politics where methodology can sometimes be messy. Basically, a short witty statement.
 * __Aphorism__**

"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated..."