Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams

[Ammaarah Hamidullah]

Abigail Adams writes to her son, JQA, who is traveling abroad with his father, John Adams, a United States diplomat and later America's second president. Abigail Adams diligently executes allusion as an efficacious rhetorical device. Ms. Adams uses allusion to convey to her son that the
best of political dignitaries benefitted from experiences and refined them for the better. 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? She asks. This refers to a respected Roman orator, also a statesman, lawyer, and writer. Abigail Adams says that Cicero's orating skills were formed and perfected by him confronting the scourges of Almighty. Roman generals and early Rome is often looked up to by the European world for their foundation in government, more specifically the republic. Her son and her husband are prominent figures in the upcoming American government. John Quincy Adams would become the sixth president of the United States 45 years later. A comparison to such a prestigious individual is powerful and awe-inspiring. Young boys in that time period learned the stories of these lionhearted Roman politicians and leaders. Finding a common denominator between the two also shows Adams his potential and his mother's belief in him. The Adams were facing injustices from Britain just shy of four years ago. This relates to John Quincy Adams and gives him an edge. She communicates with a heavy maternal tone which adds to her credibility. She reminds him of his upbringing and that no one is more deserving and more qualified of his position than he
reassuring the age old saying that mother truly knows best.