Rhetorical Analysis Of Abagail Adams Letter To Her Son

At the beginning of the letter, Adams uses encouraging diction to show John has the ability to lead. For example, she states

The third rhetorical device, Abigail Adams uses is logical repetition. Mrs. Adams was a logical woman and used this to drive the point that her son has great things that lie ahead of him. She mentions the word “great” a series of times to lift her son up. For example, she says that he has been endowed with “greater advantages” that he hasn't come to realize yet. Such as his parents, education, and that he has been taught that everything isn't about him becoming who he wants to be.

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.

This allows the audience to know that she can relate to the situation. Most everyone texts and it can be easy to allow such language to bleed over into any type of formal writing. She, however, believes that people have enough common sense and control and that most people don't allow themselves to use such language in their final drafts of their formal writings. Despite establishing her credibility and strong use of logos, she does, however, lack in pathos. She fails at truly connecting with the reader on a more personal and emotional level.

By saying this, Eleanor presents the rhetorical device pathos, because she uses inspirational words to grab attention and connect with the listeners in a way that relates to them. She also uses vivid language to truly intrigue the audience to compromise and work together to provide peace for the country. Eleanor uses a strong form of ethos in the quote from paragraph 10 , “ This declaration is based upon the spiritual fact

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.

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.

Abigail uses an Allusion about Cicero, and she knows her audience and she knows that her son will understand the meaning behind this allusion. The allusion was about Cicero, Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony and the troubles that they faced. She uses this Allusion as an example of overcoming hardship, she then explains that even though that these great men had hardships they overcame them, and became who they are because of those hardships. She is trying to show how this voyage may look like a bad situation, but really it will help him in the future. She then also goes on to say “..wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience…”(lines 35 and 36).

She asks her son rhetorically if Cicero would have been such a great leader had he not been "roused, kindled and inflamed. " Here, Adams is explaining that to become a great leader, one must go through great trials. Also, Adams compares her son to

Abigail begins her letter by saying “My Dear Son” to show her love for him and that she does not wish to reprimand him, but rather encourage and advise him along the way. She then appeals to his emotions by stating her greatest concern is his safety

For a very long time, the voting rights of the citizens have been a problem in the US. It started out with only men with land being able to vote, and then expanded to white men, and then to all men. However, women were never in the situation, they were disregarded and believed to not be worthy enough to have the same rights as men. They were essentially being treated as property, therefore having no rights. But, in Susan B. Anthony’s speech, she hits upon the point that women are just as righteous as men.

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.

The truth displayed is that too much power can be destructive in society. Some conflict that occurs because of one’s name is the conflict that happened between Abigail Williams and her friends. “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” (Abigail P.26) The language used in this section of the text is used effectively to describe horrific events that could take place between Abigail and her friends.

In her letter to her son, John Quincey Adams, Abigail Adams uses picturesque diction, a supportive tone, and allusions to encourage John Quincey Adams to persevere through his current journey and the ones to come, even when he does not want to. The first noticeable technique that Abigail Adams uses is picturesque diction that develops through her elaborate descriptions of the trials of life. In her letter, she describes the struggles in life as if she was referring to people on a battlefield, flourishing her words with imagery therefore, Abigail Adams portrays her purpose by painting a picture in John Quincey Adams’ head about the victories of justice, wisdom and fortitude. Furthermore, this diction helps her develop symbolism, creating an image of a brave citizen, an ideal that most young men strive for, achieving her purpose to encourage John Quincey Adams to persevere through his strenuous life journey.

(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.