Abigail Adams writes a persuasive letter to her son John Quincy Adams to explain her reasoning for sending him to France with his father diplomatic father John Adams. In her letter, she reminds J.Q. Adams of his intelligence, opportunities, and his natural gifts. In her writing it is clear that she has a strong maternal instinct and feels a responsibility to prepare her son. Abigail is attempting to protect and educate her beloved son in her letter by using a variety of rhetorical devices including persuasion, comparison/contrast, and figures of speech.
Originally John Q. Adams was not intrigued by the idea of voyaging to France for a second time. But A. Adams was able to convince her son to embark on this particular journey with his Father. In her letter she is listing all the aids J.Q. Adams has by accompanying his father on the trip. She feels he will gain experience and become more educated by traveling and being around a different culture. She is attempting to make him …show more content…
By sending him on this trip to France she feels she is directing him to the right path. It’s evident that she is interested in her son following in the footsteps of his father. John Adams is very successful and has earned the “trust reposed in him with so much satisfaction as to be honored with the important embassy which at present calls him abroad.” Reminding J.Q. Adams of his fathers’ success is a motivator for him to be outstanding just like his father. Abigail Adams wants her son to “honor to his country, and render his parents supremely happy, particularly his ever affectionate mother.” She wants nothing more than a son who she can be proud to call her own. Little did she know trips just like this one would eventually lead to her son being great just like his father. John Adams would go on to be the 2nd president of The United States followed by John Quincy Adams who would be the