Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Resisting Progress in "Letters to John"
Abigail Adams, in her letter "Man is a Dangerous Creature," describes America as a "great empire" that is "building up." With the oncoming of a new empire, however, she expects lots of problems to arise. These problems include resistance by Americans to change. Adams does not think they will take well to having their freedom restricted. She thinks many will find the new, improved government to be futile. This puts the "great empire" in jeopardy... will it hold and be supported by a newly restricted community of Americans, or fall apart?
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That is why the letters work so well I think. They provide an advocate who is not necessarily forcing her beliefs on her husband, but making him face what is happening by bringing all these questions to the front that they should be thinking about instead of ignoring them.
ReplyDeleteThis also brings great dynamics to her letters because they are not completely progressive or reactionary, but a mix that allows her husband not to be completely shoved in the face but also allows a little humor. She does a really good job of mixing her opinions with her acknowledgement that she is still his wife and she can not bombard him with all things political.