An Analysis Of Abigail Adams Letter To 12 Year Old John Quincy Adams

In the 1780s, America was amidst a Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Notably, John Quincy Adams, along with his father, John Adams, embarked on a voyage to France to negotiate a treaty of alliance. In event of, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to 12 year old John Quincy Adams. Throughout the letter, Abigail appeals to emotion and sets an encouraging tone with the purpose to inspire John Quincy to use his endowed knowledge and take advantage of the challenges that would present itself to become a prominent future leader. To begin, Adams appeals emotionally to her son with the use of an analogy and pronouns. For example, Adams addresses, “Some author … compares a judicious traveller to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows

Markedly, Abigail asks the question, “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?” Abigail implies that John Quincy is an endowed genius like Cicero. Abigail asserts that John Quincy should not be intimidated by difficulties when presented, but rather take it as a learning opportunity to gain strength. Abigail's tone is encouraging, in which it allows John Quincy to ponder on what his main purpose in life is: Dedicate or not dedicate his life to the Republic’s consolidation? Similarly, Abigail states, “Yet it is your lot, my son, to be an eyewitness of these calamities in your own native land, and, at the same time, to owe your existence among a people who have made a glorious defence of their invaded liberties … will transmit this inheritance to ages yet unborn”. Abigail sets an encouraging tone through a complex sentence. The complex syntax allows for a thorough understanding of the value of patriotism, a concept that may be vague and ambiguous to a young twelve year old John Quincy. With the nation being in the middle of a revolution and regarding the peril effects that could follow the war, Abigail encourages her son to set afoot on the path of being the future protector of the nation. With this, Abigail