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What Is The Tone Of Abigail Adams Letter To Her Son

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John Quincy Adams, the fourth president of the United States, was not born with the capabilities to run a country. Of course, he had much advice from his father, John Adams, the second president of the United States, and first lady, Abigail Adams. On his journey of diplomacy, Abigail Adams sent Quincy Adams a letter expressing her concerns and wishes to her son. Throughout her letter, Abigail Adams uses many rhetorical devices to convey her political concernment to her son. ` From reading this letter, the tone of this letter is professional. Abigail expresses a more political concern for what is better for the country rather than a emotional concern for what is best for her son. Abigail states, “your knowledge of the language must give you …show more content…

Mrs. Adams uses allusions to assist her point that “a genius would wish to live.” She cites Cicero, Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony, all powerful leaders of the past that would not have been successful as they were if it was not for the rough times ahead of them. This allusion also gives Quincy Adams the anticipation of a bright and fortunate future. Being compared to these all-powerful leaders helps lessen Quincy Adams incompetence and any doubt that she might be having as is time to run for office approaches. Abigail Adams also wrote the letter in first person. Of course, this is a letter to her son so it would make sense for the letter to be in first person. Writing in first person deviates from the political motives behind this letter, and makes the letter more personal. On a wide spectrum, this letter would not have been published and as widely known if it did not show some other background motive than a friendly letter between a mom and her son. Abigail adds to the pressure by saying “adding justice, fortitude, and ever manly virtue which can… render your parents supremely happy.” Almost stating that only if he does not mess up this deal with France, that his family will be proud of him. There is a lot of pressure that comes with following a father’s footsteps to

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Abigail Adams, mother to John Quincy Adams, formulates an effective rhetorical situation in order to convey her message to her son in a way that establishes order, purpose, and logical reasoning for him to follow so that the point of her letter is most effectively delivered. During this time, John Quincy Adams needed advice while traveling abroad as Abigail notes in her opening stanzas. She was able to build on prior knowledge of his situation and lead him through deductive reasoning and explanations, along with rhetorical questions and emotionally charged language to her final closing claim, which is also her overarching thesis. Based on the final stanza, Abigail establishes that her advice to John Quincy Adams is to “add justice, fortitude,

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In 1780, eight years before the creation of the Constitution, Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams, using many different rhetorical devices to advise him throughout his voyage across seas. As a mother, Adams’s concerns and prospects for the future are expressed to her son, who is growing old enough to begin to apply his own intelligence to the world. Mothers have always shared a similarity that is rooted in their compassion and tendencies to protect their children, and Adams is no different. Adams encourages her son through a series of rhetorical techniques. First, she displays her absolute love for him, using the phrase “my dear son” throughout the letter to continually show him that she is not scolding him; rather, she is trying to exhibit to him how much he means to her.

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In our lives, we will all often go through phases of being a leader and being a follower. Sometimes we can be a little bit of both. In Abigail’s situation she was a leader and she acquired her power because of her followers. Without her followers, she wouldn’t have been as influential. We all know leaders and followers in our lives, and this story really differentiates how you can either be a leader or a follower in your life, and it’s all up to you.

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Abigail states "Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if her had not been roused, kindled, and enflamed in tyranny of catline, vernes and Mark Antony?". In this allusion she makes a reference to her son, indicating that if he is never aroused and pushed, then he will never know his full potential. This is also a rhetorical question asking John if he is willing to rise to the challenge of new experiences. Abigail Adams also alludes to the examples of her husband, who shares a large interest in politics. She references him saying " Nor it ought to be one at the least of your excitement toward exerting every power and faculty of your mind, that you have a parent who takes to large and active share in contest.".

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(Miller 12). This quote shows how Abigail has changed and what she’d do if she was confronted with such a situation. She made the decision quickly and opted to only save herself. Over the course of the book it gets represented pretty well that she is capable of doing everything to hold up her reputation: she wants to be a saint. Every decision she makes is like a little test that shows what kind of person and friend she is.

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The devastating past event of having her parents killed proves that Abigail is a victim of her society as she is an orphan. Parents play a key role for their children while they are growing up, they can teach them right from wrong and Abigail did not have these privileges. She was instead raised by her uncle Parris, who only cares about his own reputation. However, on the other hand, the grieving events of Abigail’s past can only act as an excuse for her decisions to a certain extent as she cannot be considered a victim on

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To start off, Abigail Adams appeals to her son’s emotions by starting off the letter with “my dear son.” By using this introduction, it informs her son that she is being sincere and affectionate towards him. She, also, uses the power of ethos by flattering him with the talents and triumphs he is set with. This is exhibited in the third paragraph when she insists that he is bestowed with “superior advantages.” This flattery persuades and encourages him into continuing his use of the set of advantages he has received.

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The newly established land of America was attempting to break away from the mother country, England, to become the independent land that we know as the United States. The letter by Abigail Adam was written to her beloved son whom was traveling abroad with his father. Throughout the letter, Adams uses inspiring diction, allusions to historical figures, and well timed metaphors to encourage her son to be resilient and not shy away from any challenges that may face him. In the letter, Adams compares her son to other great leaders using allusions and metaphors.

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Throughout the letter, Adams compares her son to many different people and elements, from past and present, in order to illustrate who, she wants her son to be. First, she parallels “a judicious traveler to a river,” which is Adam’s way of advising her son to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity he has been given. The farther that Adams travels from home the more he will expand his horizons in order to collect “rich veins of minerals,” meaning knowledge, companionship, and wealth. Later in the letter, Adams also uses a historical event in order to compel her son to do good. She proposes, “Would Cicero have

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Abigail wrote this letter to her John in January of 1780, so the language used was very different from today's society, and it used many heightened points of diction and more formal language.

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She is trying to use that appeal of this is a fact and it has been proven time and time again. Abigail is trying to make her son have a moment of clarity and see that this voyage is a good thing for

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She uses allusion to invoke a sense of purpose in her son completing his journey and gaining the knowledge he needs in order to grow. When Abigail Adams suggest that her son was fortunate enough to witness "who have made glorious defense of their invades liberties. " She uses Americas history into becoming an independent country to show hardship that will come but the outcome from it is even better. Next example she used is, "Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony." Adams proposes that adversity will come in life, but it will make him a great leader.

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And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ head on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!” (Miller 12). This quote shows how Abigail has changed and what she’d do if she was confronted with such a situation. She made the decision quickly and opted to only save herself. Over the course of the book it gets represented pretty well that she is capable of doing everything to hold up her reputation.

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