Thomas Paine: The American Crisis
I have some last thoughts on Thomas Paine...
Besides demoralizing the Enemies and attracting the Allies by stating how Britain is physically weak through his victorious description of the Americans' retreat, Paine points out that Britain is spiritually inferior. He says, "God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish...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 devils...I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, or a house-breaker, has as good pretence as he." This statement clearly puts God on the side of the Americans, compares the British to devils, and makes the king as good as a murderer! That would be rather demoralizing to the Enemies, and add the fuel to the fire in the Nationals.
Paine also demoralizes the Enemies by pointing out that the English were driven back by the French in the fifteenth century, and this calls to the Allies, especially France, by saying that England is able to be defeated. Paine says, "the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc." He then goes a step further by saying, "Would that heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen, and save her fair fellow sufferers from ravage and ravishment!" Paine is saying that America may get some great leader just like Joan of Arc, and his description reminds me of the personification of liberty, which is also a woman. He describes liberty by saying, "for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire." This is his way of saying that although America may have hard times, it still has liberty and in the end will be successful.
Besides ameliorating the "flame of liberty" which "may sometimes cease to shine" and the retreat of American troops, Paine also ameliorates panics. He says, "yet panics, in some cases, have heir uses...the mind soon grows through them and acquires a firmer habit than before...and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered...they sift out hidden thoughts of men and hold them up in public to the world." This statement shows that even panics have good effects, and demoralizes the Enemies within the country by saying that their thoughts could be revealed to the public, and perhaps used against them.
--Caroline
Besides demoralizing the Enemies and attracting the Allies by stating how Britain is physically weak through his victorious description of the Americans' retreat, Paine points out that Britain is spiritually inferior. He says, "God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish...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 devils...I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, or a house-breaker, has as good pretence as he." This statement clearly puts God on the side of the Americans, compares the British to devils, and makes the king as good as a murderer! That would be rather demoralizing to the Enemies, and add the fuel to the fire in the Nationals.
Paine also demoralizes the Enemies by pointing out that the English were driven back by the French in the fifteenth century, and this calls to the Allies, especially France, by saying that England is able to be defeated. Paine says, "the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc." He then goes a step further by saying, "Would that heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen, and save her fair fellow sufferers from ravage and ravishment!" Paine is saying that America may get some great leader just like Joan of Arc, and his description reminds me of the personification of liberty, which is also a woman. He describes liberty by saying, "for though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire." This is his way of saying that although America may have hard times, it still has liberty and in the end will be successful.
Besides ameliorating the "flame of liberty" which "may sometimes cease to shine" and the retreat of American troops, Paine also ameliorates panics. He says, "yet panics, in some cases, have heir uses...the mind soon grows through them and acquires a firmer habit than before...and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered...they sift out hidden thoughts of men and hold them up in public to the world." This statement shows that even panics have good effects, and demoralizes the Enemies within the country by saying that their thoughts could be revealed to the public, and perhaps used against them.
--Caroline
posted by L Lazarow | 9:05 PM
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