Final answer:
The quote in question uses rhetorical questions, a device meant to provoke thought rather than seek actual answers, emphasizing the value of freedom over life or peace when constrained by enslavement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote “Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” exemplifies the rhetorical device of rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are those that are asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer. This series of questions serves to provoke thought and emphasize the speaker's viewpoint, suggesting that freedom is more valuable than life or peace when the latter are bound by the costs of “chains and slavery.” This device is effective in rhetoric as it engages the audience and encourages them to consider the speaker's argument more deeply.