Read the following excerpt from a 1775 speech by Patrick Henry in which he presents his ideas concerning the American colonists'
relationship with Great Britain: Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of the siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
Which best explains the purpose of the rhetorical device used in this excerpt?
A. The personification of the struggle for liberty makes it a familiar and relatable topic.
B. The repetition of the words "sir" and "throne" emphasize the point that the colonists are subordinate to Great Britain.The imagery of a colonist with no eyes and no ears illustrates how helpless they all are at the hands of Great Britain.
C. The rhetorical questions highlight the absurdity of passively ignoring the truth about Great Britain's intentions.
D. The use of parallelism draws attention to the many peaceful steps the colonists have taken
The correct option is C. From the excerpt given above, it can be seen that the speaker is condemning the attitude of pretending not to see that which is obvious. The speaker in his speech used rhetorical device to emphasized the point that it is absurd and unwise to ignore to know the true state of things. He believed it is better to know the bitter truth and then prepare for it than to be ignoring the truth in the hope that it will go away.<span />
