Rhetoric Essay, Research Paper

Comparison on the Rhetorical Approaches used in Two Literary Works

Paine s Crisis, Number One and King Henry s St. Crispin s Day speech in Shakespeare s Henry V both deal with men convincing soldiers to defend their country against an enemy. In doing so, both men use the three Aristotelian appeals (Logos, Ethos, and Pathos) to support their arguments. Paine uses the appeals more effectively because he uses them to support several different methods of gaining the soldier s support. He creates a desire to be honored, instills fear, raises anger against Britain, validates attacking the king, raises the soldier s self-esteem, and establishes the practicality of his character among others. Henry only attempts to glorify the honor that may be received if one fights against the French.

Pathos

Paine first uses pathos to create a desire for honor among the soldiers. Paine states, he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman (Paine 95). Then Paine continues to use pathos to generate anger among the soldiers towards the British. He makes the soldiers feel as if they are being manipulated at the expense of the British. In one passage he lowers their status to that of a slave: Britain, by taxing and binding them in all cases whatsoever , is enslaving them and such a power should only be accessible by God himself (Paine 95). Paine uses pathos again to set fear in their hearts of being dubbed a coward. Knowing that most soldiers hold their children in high regard, Paine asserts that The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy (Paine 95).

While Paine uses pathos to support three solid arguments, Henry makes a weak attempt to set fear in the hearts of those that refuse to fight the French. A man of reason would see that it wouldn t hurt him the least if he didn t take part in the war. Unlike the soldiers with Payne who are fighting for their freedom, Henry asserts that those who aren t willing to die with them should be considered outcasts and be deported to another country. Henry states That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made and crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man s company that fears his fellowship to die with us . Henry attempts to force unity upon the soldiers later on in his speech. He writes We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne er so vile .

Logos

Paine first uses logos to raise the spirits of the soldiers. Paine s army had recently been defeated and had no willingness to be defeated yet another time. With the troops in Washington s army feeling dejected, Paine attempts to maintain their hopes by two important quotes. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us that the harder the conflict, the more glorious that triumph (Paine 95). Later on Paine points out that going to war is inevitable. These soldiers will remain unhappy unless they take action. Paine writes Wars, without ceasing, will break out till that period arrives( freedom from other countries), and the continent must in the end be conqueror; for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire (Paine 95).

Paine also uses logos to establish the validity for rebelling against the king of Britain. Paine explains to the soldiers that the king of Britain should be treated as a common man: just as the common man would if he commits an offense. I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murder, a highwayman, or a housebreaker has as good a pretense as he .. ( Paine 95). Furthermore Paine does an excellent job of breaking down the kings true criminal action: .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 ( Paine 96). Paine goes on to argue that there shouldn t be any difference between a king committing a crime and a common thief (Paine 96). He convinces the soldiers that the king really doesn t hold as much power as they previously thought. Paine maintains If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other (Paine 96).

Henry s use of logos consists asserting that the share of honor will be greater with the fewer soldiers that are left after the war. Henry writes, If we are mark d to die, we are enow to do our country loss; and if to live the fewer men, the greater share of honour . While this is true, a man in his right mind would say: Henry is saying that most of us are going to die but if for some reason I do survive I will have a great amount of honor due to me. Why should I risk my life when my current situation is reasonably good? From this his arguments really begin to unravel because most of the soldiers don t want to risk their life for an ill-advised reason. Henry uses cause and effect logos to prognosticate what may develop if they take part in the war. He asserts that those few that do survive will stand a tip-toe when this day is named . He continues to list all of the benefits of surviving the war. However with every soldier knowing in the back of his mind that most of his companions won t survive the war, how can they look up to and follow the lead of such a man that proposes such a mass killing of people? Henry is like a kamikaze pilot crashing into a naval ship with thousands of men in the back of his plane. He is leading most of these men to an inevitable death.

Ethos

Paine uses ethos to establish his character to the soldiers. It is important that he does this because they may question everything that he says if he doesn t establish himself as a reputable man. For instance, a complete moron could announce that he found a cure for cancer but if he doesn t establish himself as a reputable man, no one will ever believe him. Paine establishes his character from beginning to end in his essay. Paine can relate to the soldiers because he believes in God just as many of them do: I have as little superstition in me as any man living, 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 .. ( Paine 95). He establishes his religious devotion furthermore by writing: Neither have I so much of the infidel in me as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of the devils ..(Paine 95). Paine then proves his validity by showing confidence in his reasoning. The soldiers will now find it easier to except all of his arguments because they know he is very clear minded and practical: My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light (Paine 95).

Henry uses ethos like the other two appeals to solely focus on honor. He wants his soldiers to know what his true intentions are by leading them to war. He says that he isn t interested in money but specifically honor. He emphasizes his point when he says: But if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive .

Conclusion

Using the Aristotelian appeals to back a single argument will work to a degree in small groups. However with a large group of people, many different arguments must be used so that it is impossible for at least one idea not to relate to each individual. This relates to a person in a situation such as king Henry or Thomas Paine who must convince hundreds of opinionated people to defend their countries. Therefore, Thomas Paine s The Crisis, Number 1 uses the Aristotelian appeals more effectively because it introduces a variety of plausible arguments to his audience while king Henry s St. Crispin s Day speech only addresses one viable argument.