Mr. Clay's predominant sentiment, from first to last, was a deep devotion to the cause of human liberty—a strong sympathy with the oppressed everywhere, and an ardent wish for their elevation. With him, this was a primary and all controlling passion. Subsidiary to this was the conduct of his whole life. He loved his country partly because it was his own country, and mostly because it was a free country; and he burned with a zeal for its advancement. prosperity and glory, because he saw in such, the advancement, prosperity and glory, of human liberty, human right, and human nature. He desired the prosperity of his countrymen, partly because they were his countrymen, but chiefly to show to the world that freemen could be prosperous.
(from Eulogy On Henry Clay by Abraham Lincoln)
The author uses two hyperboles to describe Henry Clay: "a primary and all controlling passion" and "he burned with a zeal for its advancement."
How do these hyperboles contribute to the passage?
• 1. They make the description of Henry Clay seem less reliable because it is exaggerated.
• 2. They provide a sense of balance by admitting that Henry Clay had positive and negative traits.
• 3. They illustrate Henry Clay's utter commitment to the improvement and success of his fellow countrymen.
• 4. They dramatize Henry Clay's patriotism, suggesting that he was an emotional man rather than a practical one.