Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies In Abigail Adams Letter To Her Son

Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son John Quincy Adams (1780), argues that perseverance through adversity is essential for character and wisdom. She supports this claim by offering personal advice, using historical examples, and emphasizing the moral weight of her words as a mother. Her purpose is to encourage her son to embrace challenges to become a wiser and more capable leader. She adopts a tone of seriousness and maternal care, creating a sense of responsibility for her son as he prepares for the difficulties ahead. In her letter, Abigail Adams employs rhetorical strategies such as ethos and pathos, alongside historical allusions, to inspire her son to face adversity with resilience. By grounding her advice in both personal experience
One of the most prominent rhetorical strategies Abigail Adams uses is ethos, as she draws on her role as a mother and her authority to offer credible advice to her son. Adams establishes her credibility by reminding John Quincy of her concern for his development and the broader expectations placed upon him. She writes, “It will be expected of you, my son, that as you are favored with superior advantages under the instructive eye of your father, you should be able to form your manners upon the strictest rules of propriety.” By invoking her role as a mother and emphasizing the educational guidance John Quincy receives from his father, Abigail Adams builds her ethos, portraying herself as a source of wisdom and authority. This helps achieve her purpose by making her advice more persuasive, as it comes from someone deeply invested in his success and growth. Her audience—John Quincy—would be more inclined to heed her words, given her demonstrated experience and concern. Given that her audience is her son, Abigail Adams’ use of the ethos is particularly effective. As a
Adams draws on historical examples to highlight the virtues of perseverance and wisdom. For instance, she references the Roman statesman Cicero, writing, “Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Antony?” By invoking Cicero, a figure John Quincy would have studied, Adams provides a concrete example of how adversity shapes great leaders. This allusion helps reinforce her argument that facing challenges will build his character and oratory skills, just as it did for Cicero. This not only provides John Quincy with a historical role model, but also adds intellectual weight to her advice. Adams knew her son was receiving a classical education, so invoking figures like Cicero would resonate deeply with him. In the context of John Quincy’s diplomatic mission to France, the reference to classical figures strengthens her argument by connecting his present challenges to timeless lessons of leadership and resilience. This strategy works effectively because it appeals both to his intellect and his sense of responsibility. Adams continues to use historical references, stating, “It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.” By evoking the turbulent times