Abigail Adams writes her son a letter on January 12, 1780, to inspire and guide her son with advice she hopes he will take into consideration. In her letter, Adams advises her son to gain sagacity and develop character by being a good citizen with morals. She wants her son to integrate “justice, fortitude, and every mainly virtue,” to his character. By utilizing pathos to give her son a sense of motivation, and metaphorical elements to inspire him to become a better version of himself, adding character that will help him defend the liberties of a newly emerging America. Adams’s convinces us that her advice to her son is to develop his character along the journey, stay honest, and to hopefully one day make his parents proud. Adams establishes
