SOAPSTONE: "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"

For all of you out there who are not familiar with SOAPSTONE, it is an acronym for writing analytical pieces on short pieces.

It stands for...

S: speaker
O: occasion
A: audience
P: purpose
S: syntax
Tone: well, its tone.

Here's SOAPSTONE applied to Patrick Henry's famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"speech.

(soapstone, rock...kind of similar)

 Speaker:

Patrick Henry is an undeniably articulate speaker who can rally up passionate patriotism in his audience. Throughout his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, he epitomizes the ideal courageous, god-fearing patriot. Henry addresses his audience respectfully, but he professionally delivers his points on the ignorance of the colonists towards the English crown. Overall, Patrick Henry is a brilliant motivational speaker who incorporates effective rhetoric in his speech.

Occasion:

Patrick Henry is addressing the speech to the audience of the Virginian Convention in hopes to persuade them to bid war against the English crown. During the time of his speech, America, as a country, did not yet come into existence. The colonists were divided on the topic of war. British oppression was exercised, heavy taxes were issued without representation and British militants were stationed to “protect” the colonists. The period was tension-filled; Henry had to address his audience carefully, persuading not forcing them.

Audience:

The audience of the Virginian Convention was defined as important white men with status in the colonies. As shown by Henry’s many references to God in his speech, the men in the audience were most likely god-fearing as well. Not all of the audience members agreed with Henry from the start, they all had mixed opinions. In example, “I hope it will not be thought disrespectful of those worthy gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite of theirs, I shall speak my sentiments freely and without reserve.” He addresses the audience in a manner that shows respect toward their perspective but simultaneously pointing out their stupidity in opinions.

Purpose:

The purpose of this speech is explicit. Henry wishes to persuade his fellow colonists to take up arms against King George III, gaining independence from Great Britain. He uses various, complex forms of rhetoric and parallelism to persuade the Convention to see from his mindset. Henry induces his audience to sever ties with England and fight for freedom.

Syntax:

Obviously shown from the astute usage of sentence structure and subtle emphasizes on certain motif words, Patrick Henry is a brilliant orator. His sentences are full of short interruptions which pause to respectfully address the audience and create pauses that allow the audience to fully absorb his points. Certain words are emphasized by repetition. He utilizes rhetorical questions, for example, “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not…?” He uses rhetorical questions to give specific ideas to the audience without forcing them to accept it but rather guiding them to believe it. Henry also incorporates parallel structured sentences into his speech, listing out the offences of the English crown in a manner that magnifies its faults, “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and implored interposition to arrest”.

Tone:

Henry’s speech is extremely well-thought out. It shows the careful ways he manipulated his words to form direct but respectful remarks towards his audience. His tone is urging. Henry wishes his audience to take up arms against the crown urgently. Throughout his speech he displays passionate patriotism, rising to a climax of it at the end of his last lines, “Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”