Why did Thomas Paine Entitle his Pamphlet
When Thomas Paine, a Quaker from England, arrived at Philadelphia in 1774, he brought with him the spirit of English radicalism which would later help to shape the future of an emerging nation. As colonists struggled both physically to defend their rights and their land from England, they were also engaged in a moral battle. Whereas some colonists favored reconciliation with their "mother" country, there was a growing number who favored a break from the monarchy. By 1776, Thomas Paine felt that the time was right for him to provide a voice for the increasing number of discontented colonists. His anonymous pamphlet, Common Sense proved to be unbelievably successful in turning the tide of public opinion amongst the colonists towards an immediate break from England and towards independence. Although the pamphlet contained strong and highly reasoned arguments, much of its success in promoting independence rather than reconciliation was rooted in Paine's rhetorical strategy. The way in which the pamphlet is set up forces readers to make a clear choice between liberty (independence) or tyranny (reconciliation). By entitling his work Common Sense, Thomas Paine reinforces support for his argument for independen
ce by implying that any dissenters lack common sense. What Thomas Paine lacks in subtlety he makes up for in persuasiveness. The arguments contained within Common Sense and the way in which they are structured not only pushed the undecided colonists over to the side of independence and had a significant impact on the establishment of the Declaration of Independence soon after, but even today his claims and the reasoning behind them remain relevant. His own anguish and suffering, in addition to his true passion for the ideals of the liberal bourgeois come together into a fervent and convincing argument for independence from England. Overall though, despite his well-reasoned contentions, the success of Thomas Paine's Common Sense can be most clearly explained by its title. However, it was more than just well-reasoned arguments that ignited a revolutionary spirit among colonists in 1776. Thomas Paine beautifully crafts his rhetorical style in such a way that makes it extremely difficult for readers to openly disagree with his claims. As Paine begins to deal with the situation in the colonies, he declares that he offers, "nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense." By establishing this direct and unbiased tone, readers take Paine's words at face value and
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Approximate Word count = 874
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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