y there is not a man who eats a mouthful of rice but by permission of the East India Company.”
This line shows his deep understanding of the Company’s power.
Strong Moral Voice: Burke’s words were full of moral force. He spoke with care and pain. He was not angry with himself. He was sad for the people of India. His speech showed deep emotion. His tone was full of feeling. He spoke for the weak and the poor. He said,
“Worse, far worse, has been the fact of the poor creatures of the natives of India, whom the hypocrisy of the Company has betrayed into complaint of oppression and discovery of peculation.”
This line shows how much Burke felt for India’s people.
Simple but Strong Style: Burke used simple but rich language. His words were easy to follow. But they had deep meaning. His style was clear, smooth, and strong. His sentences flowed like poetry. He used images and symbols to touch hearts. His speech was full of beauty and feeling. One of his famous lines says,
“We sold, I admit, all that we had to sell; that is, our authority, not our control. We had not a right to make a market of our duties.”
This quote shows how he joined truth with poetic style.
Irony and Sarcasm: Burke often used sharp irony. He did not always shout or attack. Sometimes, he said things in a soft but clever way. That made people think deeply. His sarcasm was strong but polite. He talked about the Company’s power and said,
“The Tartar invasion was mischievous; but it is our protection that destroys India. It was their enmity, but it is our friendship.”
Here, Burke used irony to show how bad the British rule was, even worse than enemies.
Rich Figures Of Speech: Burke used similes, metaphors, and images in his speech. He painted pictures with words. These images stayed in the minds of the listeners. He often compared men to animals, kings to robbers, and laws to chains. When he called Hastings a wolf, he showed him as cruel and wild. He also said,
“Crimes so convenient, crimes so politic, crimes so necessary, crimes so alleviating of distress, can never be wanting to those who use no process, and who produce no proofs.”
This line is full of rhythm, repetition, and emotion.
In summary, Burke was a great orator. He knew his subject deeply. He spoke with care, power, and truth. His “Speech on the East India Bill” is a strong attack on cruelty. He used facts, feelings, and beautiful language. His tone was moral, and his style was poetic. He used quotes, images, and irony to speak for the poor. Burke’s words still touch hearts today. He proved that a true orator can change minds and move the world.
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