A Rhetorical Analysis Of Abigail Adams Letter To John Quincy Adams

Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her child John Quincy Adams in January 1780 while he was abroad with his father, John Adams. All through the letter, Abigail Adams employs the Aristotelian appeal pathos, as well as an analogy and an allusion, to explain to her son how he may grow up to be happy and successful, despite whatever difficulties he may have had while traveling internationally. The mother, who is alone but preoccupied, makes emotional pleas to her son, highlights his possible successful future through metaphors, and experiences hardships while overseas will only make John Stronger with the use of numerous rhetorical allusions. 

Within the letter, Abigail Adams utilizing pathos; when she adopts a mothering tone, for example, she inserts the phrase "My son". This technique appeals to her son's emotions. This is successful because Mrs. Adams understands that by appealing to John's emotions, he would listen to her counsel and therefore persuade him. As the letter progresses, Abigal indicates how “it will be expected of you, my son, that, as you are favored with superior advantages under the instructive eye of a tender parent” (Adams 21-23). Abigail, although being a loving mother, is irritated by her son's refusal to follow her counsel. The mother uses emotional appeal and sympathy to encourage John to adhere to her advice.

Furthermore, Abigal used analogies in order to highlight her son's potential success. This comprises, for instance, “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 qualities as they pass along” (Adams 16-20). This demonstrates Adams' belief that if John Quincy has an open mind as he grows older, he would achieve greater success. Adams prophesies that if her son does not make use of the life he has been given, he will learn wisdom from the events he encounters as he grows older; he will be forced to go out and find his own instead. In contrast to the preceding paragraph, Abigal Adams is less forgiving and motherly, instead of being straightforward and slightly forceful in order to communicate to his son that he is on the correct track to a brighter future.

In addition to this, the concerned mother fears that if her counsel is ignored, her son's future would be jeopardized. As her son continues to travel abroad to France, she feels that if “Cierco have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthoney?” (Adams 30-32). She expresses the concept that her child might be a highly great leader, and that trials and setbacks aren’t to be frowned upon, but rather an opportunity to grow as a leader; She also transmits this concept to her kid as a means to ensure that he never feels disheartened as a young man and future leader. When Adams compares Cicero and the obstacles he overcame to become a powerful leader to her son, she is implying that he, too, can do so provided he continues to develop and learn from his errors.

As Abigail concludes writing her letter, she hopes that her son will follow her advice and continue on his current course of success. She uses analogies, emotive language, and allusions to illustrate his potential for success in the future, as well as how setbacks are something to be learned from and not to be disheartened by. She recognizes that her son is maturing and, despite her best efforts to influence his decisions, Abigail recognizes that it is ultimately her John's decision as to how he will go in his life.