Analysis Of Abigail Adams Letter To Her Son

Abigail Adams wrote this letter to her son John Quincy Adams to motivate him to be strive to best he can possibly be. She makes it clear to him that he is very fortunate and should build off of who he already is, “As you increase in in years, you will find your understanding opening and daily improving.” At the same time she advises him to make wise decisions without directly stating it. In the beginning of her letter she is repentful for sending her son on the voyage that he was so defiant against. As a mother she feels she should have listening to her son and payed more attention to what he wanted. Abigail’s resentfulness and regret for forcing her son to do something he was very against is an emotional appeal used to connect with him. This is mainly used to

She compares him to a river, “Judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from the source.” This imagery is used to defend her point, he was born into a fortunate family with well educated parents therefore, he should carry out his knowledge and grow. Abigail makes it clear that in order for him to “increase its stream” meaning increase his knowledge, he needs to face challenges that will bring out characteristic traits that had been “dormant prior to these obstacles.” This is also where her tone shifts from a compassionate and sympathetic mother, to a strict more serious parent who wants the best for him. Her shift in tone allows the reader to know that she no longer feels she “should not have urged” him to accompany his father, but instead she feels it is necessary to “engage the heart, there those qualities, which would otherwise lie dormant, walk into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.” This repetition is used to clearly illustrate to her son that the obstacles and uncomfortable situations in life will allow him to grow as an