In Adams letter “Absolute Power Over Wives," Killingsworth's "Appeal to Time" can be used to describe "Time as Place." Killingsworth explains Time as Place as, “the appeal of time as a crisis or time as a journey” (Killingsworth 50). In the letter "Absolute Power Over Wives" Adam's says 'ruminating upon the past, and anticipating the future, whilst you overwhelmd with the case of state,
have but few moments you can devote to any individual,” (Adams 319). This example show us that Adams was currently and has been going through life without John with her and she wanted more attention from him. Another example is in the letter "Man is a Dangerous Creature". Adams says "I have sixteen from you, but wish I had many more" (Adams 317). John being gone has
affected her and her being not only a wife but also a mother.
Later within the letter Adams looks at the past, while living in the present. Even while looking in the past, during the present, Adams still remains hopeful for the future. With that being said, being so caught up in the past, with sick children, she could lose time to get involved with change. Adams wants the way women are treated to be changed. With knew ideas and a fresh perspective, she believes it will help the country. With the upbringing of the country, she does not want women to be forgotten. It is obvious that time is important in every part of Adams life. In these letters, time is a crisis and a journey and the same time for Adams while looking at the past, being in the present, and hoping for the future.
I strongly agree with time being a common theme and important in every aspect of Adams' life. I think she looks to the past to give evidence to her claims about the future. I think throughout the letters it is apparent that Adams feels time is a crisis. You can almost feel her voice becoming more desperate for the need to be heard. She not only wants to be heard but wants her ideals to make an impact on her husband so much that he will act on them. You can see by her contrasting tones and subjects that she is touching on what is best for the country while at the same time maintaining her relationship with her husband.
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