What Is Abigail Adams Letter To His Affectionate Mother

In a letter to her son, Abigail Adams shares her advice for him while traveling abroad. The letter encourages John Quincy Adams to make the most of this experience as evidenced by her appealing to her son as his mother and her reference to heroes of past and present. In this letter Adams appeals to “my son” as “his affectionate mother” so that he might value her advice and encouragement. Adams wants her son to value her advice so that her message of making the most of your trip will not fall upon deaf ears. Referring to heroes of past and present, Adams illustrates how greatness is achieved to encourage John Quincy Adams to follow their example. Adams included the quote “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 Anthony?” to

Adams is encouraging John Quincy to discover challenges, grow, and set foot on the path to greatness. Besides referencing Greek heroes of an ancient past, Abigail Adams speaks of a hero closer to her son, his father. “You have a parent who has taken so large and active a share in this contest, and discharged the trust reposed in him with so much satisfaction as to be honored with the important embassy which at the present calls him abroad”. Adams is encouraging her son to look up to his father, who is immensely invested in his growth and wellbeing. His mom is advising him to take advantage of his father as a resource and encouraging him to make the most of the time spent with his father as well as his time in France. Adams promises Quincy that he will grow to greatness if he uses all the resources around him. “Some author that I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increases its scream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs… improve their qualities as they pass along”. Adams is promising her son in this quote that he