Thomas Paine's Use Of Ethos In The Crisis No. 1

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Young Thomas Paine was just a corset maker, poor and with no education. Thomas probably never thought that not many years later he would write some of the most influential pieces of literature of the century. Tensions were rising in North America between British colonists and England. Many colonists were hesitant to take a stand with or against the British. One pamphleteer quickly pushed the populace to one side or another. Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, The Crisis, No. 1, utilized the persuasive technique of logos to convince the other colonists of England’s treachery and the colonies’ need for freedom by using clear facts and showing the common people what they mean. Paine uses logos throughout the pamphlet when he applies God and the events of the world to the revolution. His logical thought on God is shown in the beginning of The Crisis, No. 1, when he says “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; ‘tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated” (Paine 108). This segment was effective because he used human nature and man’s relationship with God to say that what the colonists want, freedom, doesn’t come cheap. They need to fight for freedom and pay the price in order to earn it. Another case where Paine uses logos is …show more content…
1 by Thomas Paine is an iconic pamphlet written during a turbulent time in the future United States that uses logos by giving facts about the price of things they value and why it costs so much. He convinces the colonists that the price of freedom is well worth it and must be achieved with the work of everyone. Thomas Paine had one of the largest influences on the developing American Revolution when people were afraid of change. The world is still changing, and revolutionaries like Paine can come from anyone, be it a corset maker, a high school student, or anyone in