Summary Of Abigail Adams Letter To Her Son

On January 12, 1780, Abigail Adams composed a letter to send to her son; John Quincy Adams. Now, John Quincy Adams was on a trip with his father John Adams. John Adams was a U.S. Diplomat; he will later become the Second President of the United States. Abigail Adams attempts to give her son helpful advice for the current situation as well as for the future. Abigail Adams uses allusions to history, logical stories for comparison, and optimism towards the future to help tell her son. To start off, Abigail makes use of history to help in her advisement of her son. In paragraph four of her letter, Abigail alludes to Julius Caesar. “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony” (Adams 4). In Julius Caesar, Cicero was a senator known for his skills in speech. In this quote from Abigail, attempts to show that even great people in history have to struggle to become great. Cicero was forced to overcome the trials and tribulations caused by people in his life. “The

Abigail explains her expectations for her son by telling a story about a man and a river. “Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their quality as they pass along” (Adams 3). The logic in this story is that as a river flows, it gains nutrients from minerals that are eroded from the land over time. The river then carries the minerals to other waters. This in turn helps to enrich the other waters with nutrients. Abigail is attempting to convey that she wants John Quincy Adams to gain much good knowledge and experience so that he will become better over time. “… and as you increase in years, you will find your understanding opening and daily improving” (Adams