Abigail Adams Letter Rhetorical Analysis

In this letter, Abigail Adam advises her son, John Quincy Adams, about his upcoming journey. The journey takes place in the eighteenth century, and he is traveling with his father, John Adams, who is a United States diplomat. Abigail Adams employs explicit comparisons, encouraging words, and illustrations of his talent and potential in order to suggest that her son will gain experiences from his travels, and prove that his journey is essential in developing into a strong leader. Adams illustrates her son’s potential to become an influential figure by using vivid analogies and specific examples, in order to imply that his travels will give him experience and increase his wisdom. First off, she uses a statement from an author she has discussed with to compare “a judicious traveler to a river” in order to imply that his journey will bring him experience and wisdom. She believes that since a river widens, her son’s knowledge will widen the further it travels as well. By mentioning that she has met with another author, Adams establishes credibility to her opinions by showing that another author shares identical opinions. Furthermore, Adams uses an allusion to Julius Caesar when she asks, “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished and orator is he had not been roused, kindled, and enflamed?” She alludes to this to further illustrate her …show more content…
Since he is traveling abroad with his father, she proposes that his travels will help him become a great leader, who will someday help combat the problems of the world. Furthermore, Adams uses tone changes and illustrations to suggest that his choice was right, and he has no reason to worry or be unsure. Abigail Adams reinforces John Quincy Adams’ confidence about his journey, emphasizing that he would one day become an influential figure in society like his