Book Review Thomas Paine's "Common Sense".

Authors Avatar

Vasilena Savova                SID: 2654636

‘Our style and manner of thinking have undergone a revolution. We see with other eyes; we hear with other ears; and we think with other thoughts, than those we formerly used.’ (Paine, 1906: 105)

Once Thomas Paine set foot on the American colonies, he saw people that were on the verge of a riot against England, ready to seek independence and fight for their civil liberties. He believed that all ‘who had been long settled had something to defend, those who had just come in had something to pursue’ (Paine, 1976: 25). For that reason he spoke his heart through his words in ‘Common Sense’ and many believe that this was the turning point for a huge part of the rebels that were unsure whether to seek reconciliation or a new shore, a distant and unknown costal line that seemed as impossible to them as the English men saw it: the upside down of the world.

The first chapter of the pamphlet examines the origin and end of government reaching to the conclusion that it is in fact a natural outcome of a developing society. In other words, it is reckoned that government is rather ‘intolerable’, but ‘necessary evil’ (Paine, 1976: 65). It seeks not to ensure freedom and security at their most but on the contrary, security exceedingly overcomes freedom. Society is ‘a patron’, ‘produced by our wants’, whereas government is the ‘punisher’, ‘restraining our voices’ (Paine, 1976: 65). Although Paine chose to believe that the more simple the structure of a government, the easier it could be remedied and monarchy itself is the simplest model, because if there is something wrong it directly leads to one person, as the author confesses. He pointed out that it was initially a major mistake that people chose one person to rule. He argued that people’s lust for wealth and power was a rudder of their disbelief in the Almighty (Paine, 1976: 76). Mere absurdity, irrationality and uselessness – that is how Paine saw the birth of royalty, the hereditary succession of minor descendents and the ignorance of God. He, moreover, directed his radical thoughts against the ancient English principles. He sought to replace ‘the traditional aristocratic order’ with ‘liberal bourgeois values’ (Paine, 1976: 46).

Join now!

Born and raised in England by a Quaker staymaker and a daughter of an attorney, Tom left his hometown Thetford, Norfolk at the age of sixteen. He had a rather exciting life passing through all kinds of places and engagements starting with inheriting his fathers staymaking business, becoming a journeyman, excise man. He went to America in 1774 and published his book ‘Common Sense’ in 1776. The pamphlet was a meaningful scream that aimed to awake the awareness of the colonial states. He wanted to stir the disproportion that he addressed to be unnatural. He reached for something more than ...

This is a preview of the whole essay