As themes go, this is the big one…but you knew that. (It's not called the "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" speech for nothing.)
The speech is an argument for taking up arms in the cause of freedom from tyranny. Henry hits again and again on the idea that Britain's policies are oppressive and are designed to limit colonial freedoms to the point that the colonists will ultimately be unable to resist. Throughout the speech, he'll address other issues, but he always brings his points on home to this idea of freedom from tyranny.
That final line says it all: death is preferable to living without freedom.
Questions About Freedom and Tyranny
- Henry repeatedly uses the imagery of slavery (clanking chains, y'all) to describe the effects of British policies. How do you think he and other slave-holding Founding Fathers reconciled their own practice of slavery with their desire for freedom?
- Who do you think Henry blames most for the "tyranny" going on? Parliament? King George III? Lord North?
- This speech sounds like Henry's ready to declare independence right now, but later in the summer, he joins with the rest of the Second Continental Congress in attempting reconciliation with Great Britain. Why the flip-flopping?
- We in the United States have been trying to figure out what "freedom" means since Henry's day. How do you think Henry would define it?
Chew on This
Henry holds Lord North and Parliament most to blame for current oppressive British policies.
If you asked him, Henry might not be able to tell you exactly what he means by "freedom" and "tyranny." He's throwing highly charged words around to get an emotional reaction from his audience.