Letter To Henry Adams Rhetorical Analysis

Authors use many different types of rhetoric and rhetorical devices to develop their arguments and as a means of convincing others. In the letter written to her son, John Quincy Adams, Abigail Adams uses two rhetorical devices in an attempt to ensure that her son is not displeased with her after she encourages him to travel abroad with his father. Abigail uses logos to appeal to his sense of logic as well as pathos to appeal to his emotions. Abigail’s main use of logos is to point out that her son will gain skills from his travels. She not only points out that he will gain fluency of language that can only be learned from emersion, but that his travels will improve John himself. She emphasizes this point when she writes, “When a mind
As mother and son, the two share an emotional bond, and Abigail uses this to her benefit and appeals to his love for her so that any anger he feels towards her will be fleeting. This technique is embedded throughout the letter by the wording she chooses, which at times seems as though she is flattering him. Examples of this appear especially at the end of the letter as she says, “The strict and inviolable regard you have ever paid to truth, gives me pleasing hopes that you will not swerve from her dictates, but add justice, fortitude, and every manly virtue which can adorn a good citizen, do honor to your country and render your parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother,” As she closes out her letter, Abigail goes beyond standard regards and implies that she is proud that he has chosen to heed her advice and take advantage of the opportunity he was given. There are many types of rhetorical devices which can be used to engage audiences, and in this letter Abigail Adams effectively uses many, though her main focus is on logos and pathos. By using these strategies Abigail works to assuage any possible displeasure John Quincy Adams may hold in regard to her after she encouraged him to travel abroad with his