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Rhetorical Analysis Of Letters By Abigail Adams

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First lady, Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams on January 19, 1780 (three years before the end of The American Revolution) informs her son following her advice, will lead him somewhere great. Mrs. Adams purpose is to persuade her son to listen to her advice in order to prosper. She adopts a maternal and supportive tone, appropriate comparison and contrast, and inspiring repetition. Adams initiates her letter to her son by establishing her nurturing nature over him. She creates a kind-hearted tone in order to appeal to the feelings of her son through the use of thoughtful syntax by admitting that she hopes he “had no occasion either from Enemies or the Dangers of the Sea to repent …second voyage to France.” She seems to capitalize “Enemies” and “Dangers of the Sea “in order to emphasize how important it is to her to see her son safe and well. This outflow of emotion of a mother lets John Quincy Adams know that wherever he is his mother will always be there to shelter him. …show more content…

For example, the use of parallelism in the quote “judicious traveler to a river” advices her son to use his advantages and turn them into accomplishes for himself and to the world around him. Adams longs to see her son prosper and become greater just as a stream becomes broad “the further it flows.” Adams also uses an allusion for the sake of exemplification when she argues that Cicero wouldn’t have shown “so distinguished as an orator, if he had not been roused….by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres,and Mark Anthony.” Adams implies that the struggles, John Quincy Adams beholds will only make him grow stronger, so he should be courageous and take a difficulty head

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