Topic > Abigail Adams' use of rhetoric in letter to her son

Mother Abigail Adams, writes a letter in 1780 to her son John Quincy Adams, who is overseas with his father John Adams during the Revolutionary War. Being his mother, she tries to convince him of the benefits of going abroad. It includes a maternal tone to evoke support, analogies to compare his experiences and potential, and historical allusions to motivate Quincy Adams to engage with his experiences to become a better person. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Abigail Adams begins her letter by arguing that even though Quincy Adams did not want to go abroad, having him go anyway was in his best interest Adams conveys this argument by developing a motherly tone. She includes the phrase “my dear son” to highlight her role as a mother. This line establishes sincerity and emphasizes the close relationship between them, so that Quincy Adams understands that although he is speaking seriously, he is also speaking from his mother's point of view. Furthermore, he states that if he had known that he was capable of making his own educated decisions, he would not have made him accompany his father on this trip. By explaining this to him, she hopes that he will understand that it is his duty to lead him on the right path when he does not believe he can do it independently. Using a motherly tone, she wants to get him to understand that going abroad was for his benefit. Aside from her motherly tone, she then states that being by her father's side will increase her knowledge. He is expected to improve more than a common, uneducated boy because his father, John Adams, is a diplomat who negotiates for peace during the Revolutionary War. He conveys this point by creating analogies to help him understand that going abroad will benefit him in the long run. Ms. Adams uses an author's quote in which she compares a traveler to a river, she mentions "...which flowing through rich veins of minerals improve their qualities as they pass." Using this comparison, he wants to illustrate that through new experiences he will grow intellectually. Try to convince him that he needs to gain experience to grow because staying at home won't help him learn much. In another instance he compares his struggles to those of Cicero: "Cicero would have shown himself such a distinguished orator if he had not been awakened, kindled and inflamed... The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in meeting difficulties." Through this example he demonstrates that success comes through hardship: Cicero only became a great orator because he was challenged. Using this comparison, he hopes that Quincy Adams will understand that even if he didn't want to go abroad, he will benefit from it; therefore, he will have to tolerate carrying out activities that he will not want to carry out in the future. Adams includes these analogies as lessons to help Quincy Adams make the right decisions and be able to overcome his difficulties. Ultimately, at the end of his letter, he places the responsibility on Quincy Adams to help his country, but still shows support. He alludes to history to give him a sense of patriotism. She states that “war, tyranny, and desolation are the scourges of the Almighty.” Considering this, she encourages him to help the country during the war, which she describes as the "scourges of the Almighty". The phrase "scourges of the Almighty" is a biblical reference referring to a punishment given by God. By invoking the name of God, it emphasizes the need for Him to act and help change the nation. This shows that Adams understands the importance of religious and national principles. She keeps reminding him that it is his duty to help the country to motivate or push him to act. Furthermore, after making everything similar to a conference, it connects to her maternal tone.