The Rhetorical Common Sense
In January of 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense with the intention of convincing American colonist to establish independence from Britain. It's apparent from the style of his pamphlet that he wanted to convince the masses in a fashion which would make them come to the conclusion that, without a doubt, Thomas Paine must be right. This rhetorical form of writing is evident throughout his pamphlet and obviously present in the title. By titling his pamphlet Common Sense, he was stating to all his readers, that it wasn't necessary for him to explain why the colonies should separate from America. It was "common sense" that independence was inevitable. Paine's Common Sense was a pamphlet that spoke to all types of people and groups that read it. He spoke to the merchants, the loyalist, the religious separatist, and all other who may have seemed skeptical of supporting a war against Britain. As he wrote, he knew his job was to make his ideas and major points simple. He also need to phrase them in ways that m
As a society built on religion, Paine's argument here on divine right and hereditary succession proves extremely convincing. He states that society is what is good in man while government is what is evil. How can you go against this argument? Isn't it obvious what's right? In his following sections on the thoughts and future of America, he blatantly states that he "offers nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense. Paine then delves into the idea of monarchy. "Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others the most improper to defend us. This is an extremely important form because, for the reader, by the time they have read a few pages and reached his connection to colonies, they are already engulfed in the idea of the reality in Paine's words. He goes to say that the bible states that monarchy is not a natural institution. He uses a parable to show the evolution of society. He uses again the words, common sense. He starts by breaking down the institution of government. Paine's method is to convince his readers that his thoughts are just as easily the type of thoughts they could have concluded themselves. He takes biblical evidence to prove his point that monarchy is unjust, corrupt, and most importantly, the wrong form of government. "Males and females are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth enquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness of of misery to mankind.
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