Question

In paragraph two, what is Patrick Henry referring to when he mentions "that siren" who will change all men into beasts?

Answer 1

In paragraph two, Patrick Henry is referring to the British when he mentions "that siren" who will change ‘all men into beasts’.

EXPLANATION:

In his famous speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry vehemently abuses the British for their tyranny and exploitation of the Americans. Henry urges the British to either give him liberty or death. While delivering his speech Henry uses many allusions. One of his most famous allusions is that of the siren.  

Sirens are an allusion to Greek mythology. They are supernatural sea maidens with an extremely hypnotic voice. They seduced sailors by their songs and lured them to rocky shores where they either turned the sailors to pigs or beasts, or broke their ships apart killing each one of them.

Henry compares the British to the sirens and the Americans to the sailors. With their charm and sweet talking they were ripping the Americans apart, exploiting them and turning them into slaves.