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Abigail Adams Dbq Essay

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oving mother, and wife of former President John Adams, Abigail Adams writes a letter to her son during his trip to France. The purpose she conveyed to her son consists of urging him to take advantage of the trip so he can deepen his learning of the language and culture. She utilizes a troubled tone to encourage the proper and beneficial actions of her son, John Quincy Adams. Adams begins her letter to John Quincy by displaying her concerns with his activities and schemes, for she wishes he will use the voyage to his learning advantage. Adams applies an ad hominem by arguing to her son that if “[he] were capable of judging what was most for [his] own benefit, [she] should not have urged [him] to accompany...the voyage” (line 5-7), which places a direct argument on John and his effective decision making. Adams also writes that she hopes John Quincy will not “give [her] reason to lament” (line 11), her urging of the voyage upon him because she seems to have reasons to believe otherwise. Abigail uses arguing against her son’s ideas in order to enlighten John Quincy on her frets and to persuade him to follow a path of advantage instead of wasted time. The …show more content…

Adams exercises these allusions to reveal that even the greatest figures overcame struggles, chose the road of learning and advancement, and avoided wasting time on foolish acts. “The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties” (line 34-35), reveals how Abigail longs for the success of her son and how she’s promoting avoiding insubordinate acts, and insisting on conquering obstacles. Abigail incorporates advising by Cicero in order to establish the importance of developing character and greatness, to pass down to generations to come. Referring to these allusions and how they can help, Abigail conveys wisdom and credibility to John Quincy, hoping to assist his mature

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Abigail Adams writes to her son, John Quincy Adams, about the voyage he is undertaking with his father. Throughout the letter she guides and encourages John. Adams’s purpose of enlightening her son on the fortune of opportunity, is presented by powerful adjectives, connective analogies along with the emotional pull on achieving great things. As Adams constructs the letter, she represents her feeling through powerful adjectives and personal repetition aimed towards her son.

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Adams uses an abundance rhetorical devices in her letter to her son. The strong diction illustrates what challenges must be faced to become a hero. This tells John Quincy Adams that it will not be easy, but it is worth it. The analogies compare a traveler to a river and wisdom (or fruit) to experience and laziness.

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This strategy is identified in the rhetorical questions she asks about Cicero and his significant accomplishments. Adams argues that had Cicero not been challenged many times, he wouldn’t have been a hero, and she encourages John to do the same through this ethical implication in the form of advice. Accordingly, to persuade her son to continuously work hard, Adams describes “wisdom and penetration” as “the fruits of experience”. This moral assertion subtly reinforces her advice to maintain his work ethic rather than to be lazy. Consequence of these devices, the distinctive appeal to ethos is important in Adams’ strategies used to give her son

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The letter was written on May, 16 1789, her tone in this letter is worried. There is no longer any teasing in her words, although, Abigail still is somewhat warm and affectionate to her husband. Abigail addresses John as “My dearest Friend”. Abigail goes on to express a lot of confusion over unanswered questions and instructions. John has just been elected vice president to George Washington and has asked Abigail to make the move to New York to be with him.

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(Miller 12). This quote shows how Abigail has changed and what she’d do if she was confronted with such a situation. She made the decision quickly and opted to only save herself. Over the course of the book it gets represented pretty well that she is capable of doing everything to hold up her reputation: she wants to be a saint. Every decision she makes is like a little test that shows what kind of person and friend she is.

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She asks her son rhetorically if Cicero would have been such a great leader had he not been "roused, kindled and inflamed. " Here, Adams is explaining that to become a great leader, one must go through great trials. Also, Adams compares her son to

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Abigail uses an Allusion about Cicero, and she knows her audience and she knows that her son will understand the meaning behind this allusion. The allusion was about Cicero, Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony and the troubles that they faced. She uses this Allusion as an example of overcoming hardship, she then explains that even though that these great men had hardships they overcame them, and became who they are because of those hardships. She is trying to show how this voyage may look like a bad situation, but really it will help him in the future. She then also goes on to say “..wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience…”(lines 35 and 36).

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She uses allusion to invoke a sense of purpose in her son completing his journey and gaining the knowledge he needs in order to grow. When Abigail Adams suggest that her son was fortunate enough to witness "who have made glorious defense of their invades liberties. " She uses Americas history into becoming an independent country to show hardship that will come but the outcome from it is even better. Next example she used is, "Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony." Adams proposes that adversity will come in life, but it will make him a great leader.

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And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ head on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!” (Miller 12). This quote shows how Abigail has changed and what she’d do if she was confronted with such a situation. She made the decision quickly and opted to only save herself. Over the course of the book it gets represented pretty well that she is capable of doing everything to hold up her reputation.

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