“The American Crisis I”

Thomas Paine writes in "The American Crisis I" that the greatest thing for the American people to do is struggle for their independence from Great Britain. With his words, Paine persuades the public that this is the correct thing to do. He persuades them that it is the best option for them. By the writing of "The Crisis No. 1," he hopes to convey the message of the importance of the American people's independence. He wants all American citizens to understand that achieving self-rule for the United States is their greatest option. In “The Crisis No. 1”, Thomas Paine accomplishes this goal of persuading the people to champion for their independence through his use of figurative language. He employes a particular tone to drive his point home. He further uses rhetorical devices to this. “The Crisis No. 1” text is of figurative language.Thomas Pain tries to persuade the people into believing that America required attaining independence. Similes have been used severally by Paine throughout the writings.



By writing “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered” (Paine 108); Pain implies that Britain’s control over the sovereignty of the people of the United States will be difficult to overcome, equating it to hell. Though he argues that defeating the colonial rule is difficult, he still inspires hope to the people that one day they will overcome and obtain internal self-governance. Paine also employs metaphors as another type of figurative language in his writings. An example of a metaphor that he uses is “if being bound in that matter, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth” (Paine 108). In this metaphor, Paine explains to people that Britain is not treating them with any human dignity. That Britain has enslaved the people and is treating them as such.



Thomas Paine further uses personification metaphor when he writes “Not a place on earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them” (Paine 108), referring to the United States as a person, and that all America is desperately yearning to be a business partner with other countries across the world. Pain succeeds in his use of the figurative language to persuade people as many people gladly embrace this idea and start advocating for the American independence. The sentence structure and the choice of vocabulary used by Pain in writing The Crisis No. 1 his vocabulary choice is another writing used in persuading people to advocate for their independence. He uses long sentences laced with subordinate clauses. “Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon or delayed too long, I will not now enter into an argument; my own simple opinion is that it had been eight months earlier, it would have been much better” (Paine 108).This is a single sentence making up one paragraph in Paine’s writing. In the paragraph he regrets that they did not take advantage of the winter to fight for the independence, nevertheless he gives people hope that there was nothing much lost and it does not make a big difference.



The choice of prominent words directed towards his audience is another notable characteristic of Thomas Paine’s writing in “The Crisis No. 1” persuasive is Paine’s word choice to towards his audience. One example of his word choice is “and I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world” (Paine 110); he uses vocabulary that even the common man can relate to and understand the points he is trying to make. That his confidence is beyond in doubt stressing the surety situation he is in.T he use of diction such “It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil of the blessing will reach you all” (Paine 109). He efficiently communicates using the diction to reach all those reading his writings. Paine uses his mastery and prowess of the language to his advantage in persuading the people to lead a revolution against Britain which is colonizing America at the time of his writings.



Through the use of rhetorical strategies including pathos, logos, and ethos Thomas Paine further persuades the Americans on the need for them to struggle for their independence. Though the use of pathos Paine appeals to the audiences feeling towards separating from Britain, Mason (1985). The pathos he uses such as “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will…shrink for the service…but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman” (Paine 108). Such a statement makes his audience develop a sense of gratitude towards the freedom fighters that are fighting Britain in defense of America. The other example is ethos and Paine uses himself as the reliable person the people can trust. “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,” Thomas Paine uses this etho to convince his audience that he is a reliable and trustworthy person. He appeals to them to have confidence in him. (Paine 110). This is a portrayal that Paines holds in high esteem those fighters who will join him in the fight for the liberation of America from colonial hands.



Thomas Paine makes use of the rhetorical devices and his writing style to his benefit for making his audience realize the fruits that come with freedom, Thomas (2004). He manages to persuade the American citizens that the best thing for America was to break away from Britain. Paine’s tone of voice was another reason why people were willing to follow him in his causes. Something that can be taken from this is that if “The Crisis No. 1” did not connect with the audience emotionally then America wouldn’t have had the revolution against Britain. The choice of the language used, the information conveyed, comes at a time when people need them most.There is a feeling of the agitation of the sovereignty of the citizens as they mistreated by the British colonial government. Thomas Paine’s “TheCrisis 1” therefore achieves its intended purpose in the quest to free America. He uses logos through the writing of “I thank God, that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear. I know our situation well and can see the way out of it” (Paine 111). Here he depicts that they have no other choice to make apart from fighting for their freedom. By using these rhetorical devices, Paine's arguments towards self-rule are stressed and strengthened, and the audience is psyched to come out, make sacrifices and fight their self-rule,(Paine, Jack, & Sydney,2003).



Work Cited



Paine, Thomas, Jack Fruchtman, and Sidney Hook. Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine. New York: Signet Classics, 2003.



Paine, Thomas. Common sense. Broadview Press, 2004.



Paine , Thomas. The Crisis No. 1. Elements of Literature Fifth Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart



Mason, Alpheus Thomas. The free government in the making: readings in American political thought. Oxford University Press on Demand, 1985

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