A Rhetorical Analysis Of Abigail Adams Letter To John Quincy Adams

On January 12, 1780, Abigail Adams writes a letter to her youngest son John Quincy Adams. Adams writes the letter for the soul purpose of informing her son on how important it is for him to travel to France. In her letter, Abigail Adams encourages her son to continue his journey of triumph. In Adams letter, she uses allusion, ethos, and pathos, to express her ideas of advise to John. Adams continuously appeals to her son’s emotions by emphasizing that she wants him to be successful in life and aiding him in realizing that she cares enough to push him to be the best that he can be.

Abigail Adams was a woman of high character and a loving soul. She was selfless in her thinking and remarkable in the way she handled people. Her management skills were above average for the normal female in the 1700s. She held many worldly interests that tied her to the political fashion of society. She was well cultured and was able to apply this to her role of a politician’s wife with great attributes towards society. She became the “buffer” with regard to her husband's temper and lack of diplomacy. She participated in many political activities. Her independent thinking, character, faithfulness, and hard work gave her the ability to succeed in society in the 17th century. Even though Abigail Adams was not formerly

In the persuasive letter written by Abigail Adams to her son, John Quincy Adams, A. Adams uses the rhetorical strategies of emotional appeal and logic. John Quincy Adams and his father, “a United States diplomat and later the second president” of the United States, were traveling abroad. During that time A. Adams sent a letter to her son, she encouraged her son to take full advantage of the opportunity of the “voyage.” She wanted him to use his own knowledge and skills to gain experience and wisdom to grow into the man he will be in the future, a leader. A. Adams supports her position by using analogies, allusions, a nurturing and guiding tone, and an abstract word choice. These appeals are used to reassure her son of her love and affection, to convince him of his great attributes and potential for the future, and to initiate his patriotic responsibility.

Abigail tries to convey the general impact of the Revolution in Boston. She chose the details she did to try show John Adams what has changed in Boston as a result of the Revolution. She shares that the city is in a better condition that what she was expecting

Abigail Adams writes a letter to her son John Quincy Adams, conjugal to John Adams. They are traveling abroad. Adams writes this particular piece because she shows concern for her son, who is far away and composing a letter is the only way to communicate. It is important to Adams that her son has a safe and significant trip because she believes “nothing is wanting with you but attention, diligence, and steady application.” (Adams, 24-26)

In conclusion, Abigail Adams composes a letter to her son proposing that he step up and take command to follow in the footsteps of his father. Justifying her claims with metaphors, litotes, rhetorical questions and ties everything together with her use of inspirational dictions as she signs off on the letter. These elements worked well together and Adams did achieve her goal in writing as her son, John Quincey Adams, will go on to become the president of the United States (who will continue to be discussed in history books to

At the beginning of the letter, in the first paragraph, lines 1-8, Abigail Adams apologizes to John Quincy Adams about forcing and convincing him to go overseas with his father and as a result this, sympathy apology promotes her credibility and as a result John Quincy Adams is more willing to listen to the rest of what she has to say because she introduced her claim very tenderly and lovingly. She resents her decision to put her son into an abject situation where he was forced to do something he hated. She apologizes mainly about forcing him to execute this course of his

In this letter written by Abigail Adams, she goes on to use a very delicate and understanding tone in order to comfort and advise her son John Quincy Adams in his second voyage to France. With this in mind, the audience can be determined to be John Quincy Adams. The whole purpose of this letter is to help Quincy cope with his emotions and perspective of his parents' decision on accompanying his father on this trip. The reason for this is because Quincy finds it to be very useless since he sees the journey to be a grounding rather than an opportunity to learn something new. This feeling of punishment felt by Quincy is the occasion why Abigail chose to write to Quincy. Long story short, the letter goes on to talk in detail about how this voyage could be more beneficial to Quincy than harmful to his future.

If there had ever been a quick wit to match that of the great John Adams one would more often than not look toward the many distinguished men of the revolution however behind every strong man is an equally strong woman. In the letter written by Abigail Adams to John Adams the reader quickly becomes aware that Mrs. Adams was no push over behind the pen. She just like her husband John can easily be seen as a linguistic weaver moving from serious hard-pressed questioning to a more “And, by the way” (Abigail Adams 349) here’s what I want mentality. It is almost humorous to see their letters to one another due to the fact that numerous people hold John Adams on a pedestal when in reality he had to deal with domestic problems just like

In 1780, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, while he was travelling to France with his father. Adams wrote to John Quincy in hopes of convincing him to take advantage of the opportunity he had as he travelled abroad. Through the use of a concerned, motherly tone, along with historical references, Adams informs her son of the effects that can happen, should he choose to use the opportunity to further himself as a person.

Inspiring her son with pathos, Adams calls upon him to accomplish as much as possible in his life. While she gives her son reasons to act, Adams describes how “The strict and inviolable regard [he has] ever paid to truth, gives me pleasing hopes that [he] will not swerve from her dictates, but add justice, fortitude, and every manly virtue which can adorn a good citizen, do honor [his] country” (Adams 57-61). Adams tells her son that in order to satisfy the demands of “truth,” he must “add justice, fortitude, and every manly virtue” as he honors his country. All of these “virtues” add to Adams’ appeal to

To get John Quincy to comprehend her advice she writes on how people develop and grow the most in difficult situations where the odds are not in their favor. Mrs. Adams writes “ The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties”. Adams is implying that people grow in situations where they are faced with obstacles, distractions or just difficult times. By using this message she ensures to her son that sometimes the worst scenarios can even have a positive outcome, so Instead of quitting in difficult times he should just push through and be optimistic.

In Abigail Adams’ letter to her son John Quincy Adams, she uses many rhetorical strategies to advise her son. Some of those strategies include pathos, diction,and repetition.

Being a mother is not an easy, stress less, and quick endeavor--- motherhood is a never-ending struggle to instill life lessons, knowledge, and leadership into their child’s minds. A mother always wants what is best for their child, and Abigail Adams is no different from these mothers. She sees how brilliant John Quincy Adams is, how many “advantages” he has, and how with him nothing is needed of him, “but attention, diligence, and steady application.” Abigail Adams advises J.Q. Adams through the rhetorical devices of, pathos, logos, and allusions that he must work hard to become a great man.

John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, is traveling to France. Abigail Adams writes an encouraging letter to her son in 1780 integrating emotional appeal, and historical allusions to emphasize how much she cares for him. Adams hopes that the long voyage will help her son learn and develop as he becomes a better person.