In the following letter, Abigail Adams (1744-1818) writes to her son John Quincy Adams, who is traveling abroad with his father, John Adams, a United States diplomat and later the country’s second president. Read the letter carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Adams makes to convey her argument about the value of experience.
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12 January, 1780
MY DEAR SON,
I hope you have had no occasion, either from enemies or the dangers of the sea, to repent your second voyage to France. If I had thought your reluctance arose from proper deliberation, or that you were capable of judging what was most for your own benefit, I should have not urged you to accompany your father and brother when you appeared so averse to the voyage.
You, however, readily submitted to my advice, and, I hope, will never have occasion yourself, nor give me reason, to lament it. Your knowledge of the language must give you greater advantages now than you could possibly have reaped whilst ignorant of it; and as you increase in years, you will find your understanding opening and daily improving.
Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along.
It will be expected of you, my son, that as you are favored with superior advantages under the instructive eye of a tender parent, your improvement should bear some proportion to your advantages. Nothing is wanting with you but attention, diligence, and steady application. Nature has not been deficient.
These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not the still calm of life, or the repose
of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the
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tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony? The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities, which would otherwise lie dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman. War, tyranny, and desolation are the scourges of the Almighty, and ought no doubt to be deprecated. Yet it is your lot, my son, to be an eyewitness of these calamities in your own native land, and, at the same time, to owe your existence among a people who have made a glorious defence of their invaded liberties, and who, aided by a generous and powerful ally, with the blessing of Heaven, will transmit this inheritance to ages yet unborn.
Nor ought it to be one of the least of your incitements towards exerting every power and faculty of your mind, that you have a parent who has taken so large and active a share in this contest, and discharged the trust reposed in him with so much satisfaction as to be honored with the important embassy which at present calls him abroad.
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 your country, and render your parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother,
Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son John Quincy Adams, uses various rhetorical choices to convey her argument about the value of experience. Through her use of language, imagery, and appeals to authority, Adams emphasizes the importance of gaining knowledge and wisdom through firsthand experiences.
Adams begins her letter by expressing her hope that her son has not encountered any difficulties during his voyage. By acknowledging the potential dangers of the sea and enemies, she establishes a tone of concern and care for her son's well-being. This sets the stage for her argument, as she wants to highlight the benefits that can be obtained through such experiences.
Next, Adams appeals to the idea of personal growth and advancement. She notes that her son's knowledge of the French language will provide him with greater advantages than before. By using the metaphor of a river increasing its stream or springs improving their qualities, Adams suggests that experiences can enhance one's understanding. This imagery reinforces the idea that learning occurs through exposure to different environments and challenges.
Adams also uses historic examples to support her argument. She references Cicero, a renowned orator, and highlights how his skills were developed through contending with difficult circumstances, such as the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony. By referencing well-known historical figures, Adams appeals to authority and suggests that wisdom and penetration are the products of experience, rather than mere intellectual pursuits in retirement.
Moreover, Adams emphasizes the importance of the current times. She refers to them as "times in which a genius would wish to live," suggesting that the challenges and adversities of the era provide fertile ground for personal growth and development. She asserts that great virtues are called out by great necessities, and that the character of a hero and statesman is formed through engagement with heart-engaging scenes.
To further enhance her argument, Adams acknowledges the hardships of war, tyranny, and desolation, while simultaneously highlighting the strength and resilience of the American people during their fight for liberty. By acknowledging the difficulties faced by her son's native land, she underscores the significance of his experiences and the potential impact he can have as a witness to these calamities.
Lastly, Adams appeals to her son's personal motivations. She mentions that his parent, her husband, has played a significant role in the American Revolution and has been honored with an important embassy. By highlighting her son's connection to this historical moment and his parent's accomplishments, Adams seeks to inspire and encourage him to exert his own powers and faculties in service of his country.
In conclusion, Abigail Adams effectively conveys her argument about the value of experience through her rhetorical choices. By employing language that expresses concern, appeals to history and authority, and employs vivid imagery, she emphasizes the importance of firsthand experiences in gaining knowledge, wisdom, and personal growth. Through her letter, Adams seeks to inspire her son to embrace the opportunities before him and to make use of his advantages to become a virtuous and accomplished individual.
ok use specific evidence from the text
Certainly! Here is specific evidence from Abigail Adams' letter to her son that supports my analysis:
1. Language and Imagery: Adams uses the metaphor of a river and springs to highlight the benefits of gaining knowledge through experience. She states, "Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along." This metaphor suggests that the further one travels and experiences, the more one's understanding and abilities improve.
2. Appeals to Authority: Adams references Cicero, a renowned orator, and explains that his skills were developed through contending with difficult circumstances. She says, "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 Anthony?" By referencing Cicero's experiences and accomplishments, Adams appeals to his authority and suggests that great qualities are born out of challenging situations.
3. Emotional Appeal: Adams acknowledges the hardships of war, tyranny, and desolation but highlights the strength and resilience of the American people. She states, "Yet it is your lot, my son, to be an eyewitness of these calamities in your own native land, and, at the same time, to owe your existence among a people who have made a glorious defense of their invaded liberties." This emotional appeal underscores the significance of her son's experiences and the importance of his witness to history.
4. Personal Motivation: Adams mentions that her husband, John Adams, has played a significant role in the American Revolution and has been honored with an embassy abroad. She notes, "Nor ought it to be one of the least of your incitements towards exerting every power and faculty of your mind, that you have a parent who has taken so large and active a share in this contest." This personal motivation adds weight to her argument, as she encourages her son to contribute to his country's cause, just as his father has.
These specific examples of evidence from the text demonstrate how Adams uses language, imagery, appeals to authority, emotional appeal, and personal motivation to convey her argument about the value of experience.
a different piece of evidence
Certainly! Here is another piece of evidence from Abigail Adams' letter:
1. Historical Examples: Adams references historical figures to support her argument. She mentions Cicero and states, "All history will convince you of this and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure." By using historical examples, Adams appeals to authority and suggests that wisdom and insight come from real-life experiences, rather than from living a sheltered or leisurely life.
This evidence strengthens my argument by showing that Adams uses historical examples to support her claim that experience is crucial for personal growth and learning.
one about the judicious traveler
Certainly! Here is another piece of evidence from Abigail Adams' letter:
1. Metaphor of the Judicious Traveler: Adams uses a metaphor to convey the value of experience. She writes, "Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along." This metaphor suggests that just as a river grows as it flows further from its source, and springs gain quality as they pass through rich veins of minerals, a judicious traveler gains knowledge and understanding through his experiences. This metaphor underscores the idea that experience leads to growth and improvement.
This piece of evidence supports my analysis by highlighting how Adams employs the metaphor of the judicious traveler to emphasize the transformative nature of experience. It further reinforces the argument that knowledge and wisdom are cultivated through active engagement with the world.
make the sentence blended with the evidence and the analyzation
Certainly! Here is a revised sentence that blends the evidence and analysis:
Adams employs the metaphor of a judicious traveler, comparing them to a river that gains strength the further it flows from its source or springs that improve as they pass through rich veins of minerals. This metaphor serves to emphasize the transformative nature of experience, highlighting how knowledge and understanding are cultivated through active engagement with the world (evidence). By using this metaphor, Adams reinforces her argument that personal growth and wisdom come from firsthand experiences, rather than from a life of isolation or leisure (analysis).