The Letters of John and Abigail Adams are a refreshing eye-opener in contrast to the stereotypes and expectations of their day. After reading the correspondence of John and Abigail, a new light is brought upon their relationship and it reveals not only a loving and committed couple, but lets the reader view through a window in an important time in Americas history.
In a time when women were considered second class citizens and put without a formal education, Abigail Adams was an exception. Her father assured that his children would all be educated. In Abigails letters, it is evident of her training because of the way she writes.
John and Abigail were a true love story and a great match. He was a strong figure in our early American history and she was a strong women who advocated for womens rights. Abigail not only ran the household while John was away, but was a strong supporter of emancipation and kept her husband up-to-date on the politics at home. The letters chronicle the passion that these two had for each other. It is a stereotype of their time that the woman of the house was to sit back and the husband was the strictly the enforcer and master. In this marriage, that was not so. For more than a decade, John and Abigail were away from each other while John traveled across America and abroad. During this time, many letters were exchanged and the loneliness of separation was evident.
Abigail writes in one of the first letters to John, I want much to hear from you… The little flock remember Pappa, and kindly wish to see him. So does your most affectionate (Adams 685).
The Essay on Abigail John Letters One
John Adams, a Harvard graduate and well-educated politician, married Abigail Smith in October of 1764. She was the daughter of a wealthy minister. Despite the lack of formal education because of illness, Abigail learned to read, write, and converse on level of great dignity. Ten years into their marriage, Mr. Adams was elected into Congress to represent Massachusetts. He was to attend a conference ...
John writes to Abigail in 1776, This has been a dull day to me: I waited the Arrival of the Post with much Solicitude and Impatience, but his Arrival has made me more solicitous still…If you were too busy to write, I hoped that some kind Hand would have been found to let me know something about you. Do my friends think that I have been a Politician so long as to have lost all feeling (Adams 695).
Clearly the both are very emotional and sad to be away form each other for so long. Again, John expresses his love as he tells his wife, … I will stay as long as you please. I should as proud and happy as a Bridegroom. Yours (Adams 698).
In other letters, John Adams writes to Abigail revealing some of the events that are taking place as he and the fellow fore fathers of our country are building the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. These are important historically as there were no sort of recording devices other than writing journals. As these meeting were secretive, Johns letters tell of what went on from his personal perspective. The letters also reveal emotions and personal thoughts that may have otherwise left out if written by an official. John and Abigails letters are a way for us to try and imagine what the men building our nation were thinking.
The correspondence between John and Abigail reads not only historically but also as a beautiful love story that will last through time just as Shakespears plays effect readers young and old today.
Bibliography
The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Literature to 1820 volume A, 6th edition
