Abigail Adams Revision

Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son John Quincy Adams while he was overseas with his father John Adams. Abigail feels that she needs to guide John towards the right path of leadership while simultaneously doing her job of being a loving mother. Her letter to John is very alluring as she cares for John, preparing him for what dangers he might face in his voyage. Throughout this letter, Abigail's use of Pathos, Syntax, and Allusion convinces Adams to stay strong whilst traveling afar.

Abigail opens her letter with a motherly- protective tone, implying the use of Pathos. She carefully foresaw that John is able to do great deeds.”For your own benefit, I should not have urged you to accompany your father and brother when you appeared so averse to the voyage.” Pathos is the use of emotional appeal to get into one's head. Abigail brings up her family and her assumption of John not wanting to embark on the voyage. Family matters usually link with emotional feelings since families are attached together and grow a bond. She considers her son's opinions, revealing a loving side that only a mother could deliver.

Abigail's letter has great use of Syntax as she structures her letter strategically. She opens with a heart-warming introduction, asking John if he is okay. Then, at line 9, Abigail puts family matters aside, bringing the point of what she's trying to do, which is to keep Adams strong. Line 16 gives John an example for line 9. Abigail constantly strikes at John with an anecdote-like example,(Would Cicero have shone so distinguished...) then comparing it to John,(All history will convince you of this...) and then closes her letter with yet another caring paragraph that furthermore encourages John(...do honor your country, and render your parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother).

Allusions are another rhetorical device Abigail uses towards John in this letter. Lines 30-34 is a reference to Cicero, the Roman Philosopher. “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator is he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?” Cicero was a man that was burning with passion due to watching the tyrannical actions of the three. Abigail states that in order to become a powerful leader, John too must find something that will ignite his passion.

Throughout the letter, Abigail uses three rhetorical devices: Syntax, Allusions, and the use of Pathos to advise John in his trip. She uses the three almost back to back, connecting one with another so fluently that it almost looks flawless to the normal eye. These rhetorical devices shows us her success of being both an affectionate mother and a strong-minded woman that sets goals.