Abigail Adams Letter To Her Son Analysis

Sometimes parents have to encourage their children to do things that will benefit them later in life. In this instance, that’s exactly what Abigail Adams did in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, while on his voyage to France. She utilizes emotional appeals and a variety of metaphors to reiterate that he made the right choice to participate in this voyage and that these trials and tribulations will make him a better man on behalf of his country. These choices allow her to fully convey the message and advise her son to hold his head up high because hardships will make him stronger.

Abigail Adams acts as a wise and inspirational figure in John Quincy Adams’ life. She takes this stance and thoroughly employs an emotional appeal to manipulate

She makes this point very apparent as she addresses her son: “It will be expected of you, my son, that, as you are favored with superior advantages under the instructive eye of a tender parent, your improvement should bear some portion to your advantages.” Including these words alludes to how Abigail Adams wants her son to feel grateful to have a mother like her, a woman who has his best interests in mind. Adams also preaches that she expects her son to venture on this voyage alongside his father and brother because she can foresee the benefits it will impound on him. Since her son decided to travel to France, he therefore pleases his mother and is able to avoid disappointing the people around him. Abigail Adams points this out to reiterate that he made the appropriate choice to travel, while simultaneously highlighting her role in urging him to do so. She not only writes about her success in convincing him to travel, but she identifies how her son will benefit from this trip and how he should continue with his head held high:

Her use of metaphors makes it easier for her son to retain the lesson she's indirectly providing and recollect when the time comes. For instance, Adams writes, “The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure.” This metaphor compares fruit to wisdom and penetration, meaning that like fruit, wisdom and penetration are good for the soul and if not taken care of or appreciated, will spoil. Adams makes the connection that the experience her son is going to gain through his voyage is just as valuable to him as fruit is to the body, implying that he should take full advantage of his trip and all it has to offer. Not only does she utilize metaphors in her own writing, but she references other metaphors that previous authors use to further her point: “Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveller to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along.” Although this metaphor is not her own, Adams includes it in her letter as a way to advise her son to