Speech on the East India Bill

Essay | Edmund Burke

Comment on Burke's oratory skill and style as found in his “Speech on East India Bill.” 

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Comment on Burke's oratory skill and style as found in his Speech on East India Bill Edmund Burke - was a great speaker in th-century England He was wise bold and full of emotion In his Speech on the East India Bill he spoke for truth and justice His words were simple but full of power He used facts stories and strong feelings His oratory skills made people listen He wanted to stop the East India Company s cruel rule Burke s speech is one of the finest in English history It shows his great power as an orator Clear Knowledge Burke had full knowledge of India He never went there but he studied a lot He knew the laws the rulers and the people He used real facts in his speech He showed how big the issue was and why Parliament must act His clear words helped others understand

the problem He said Through all that vast extent of country 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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Edmund Burke
Literary Writer