A Comparison And Contrast Of Abigail Adams’ Letter To Her Husband And Lydia Maria Child’s Letter XXXIV

A Comparison And Contrast Of Abigail Adams’ Letter To Her Husband And Lydia Maria Child’s Letter XXXIV

Introduction

Lydia Maria Child and Abigail Adams appear as some of the biggest names in the history of American writing. Although the two are totally different individuals, their writings have had quite an impact on the American society with each being viewed as iconic and with great extents of advocacy.

Lydia Maria Child is known for her advocacy for women rights as well as her work in anti-slavery movements. She was a famous writer and an abolitionist, who, together with her husband, were activists channeling their course to ending slavery that was at its peak during their time (Child & Karcher, 1997). During her writing career, she was able to write several books for children, a number of people were appreciating the books, and at some point, she was a literary sensation among the people familiar with her work. On a similar ground, Abigail Adams and her works do a lot of advocacy for women. Coincidentally, just like Child’s husband supports her course extensively, so does John, the husband of Abigail Adams (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013). A review, comparison, and contrast of Abigail Adams (letter to her husband) and Lydia Maria (Child letter XXXIV) reveal quite an amount of similarities and minor differences, as well as cases indicating connection on courses of women advocacy.

In depth understanding of the two letters, commonalities bring out elementary approaches that outstandingly compare just as Abigail Adams writes a letter so does Maria Child. Abigail contests the demeaned position of women in the society like Maria does. Again, Abigail argues against the overrated position of men in the society providing evidence that even women are endowed with extra ordinary abilities matching or sometimes overriding men’s. This is the same perspective adopted by Maria as she writes her letter XXXIV. In essence, Abigail writes in 1776 while Maria 1843 yet strikingly they seem to speak the same language and advocate for similar issues.

Abigail Adams’ letter is directed to her husband John Adams. It is a prayer over the new laws yet to be made as America comes into her independence. In this letter, Abigail implores John and the other members of the Continental Congress to give more consideration to the ladies and specifically award them more rights than has been in the past. In her justifications, Abigail presents arguments against the extraordinary powers awarded to men indicating the potential of men (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013). She proceeds to indicate that women are prepared and determined to ferment a rebellion in the event that they are denied the opportunities she requests. In an additional fit, she says that such an act will not be derailed or put under pressure of accountability by laws; in which she says ‘they have no voice or representation.’ On the final cry for women, she indicates that men are undisputedly tyrannical and would give up the mentality of master against slave or servant only willingly. Thus, rescinding this power probably indicates the appreciation of women and accepting them as equal members of society rather than servants of sex and customary slave (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013).

On the considerations of Lydia Maria Child’s Letter XXXIV, she opens with an objection to the way the subject of women has previously been treated. She terms the ideas with which women affairs are run and their guiding principles as ‘mawkish sentiment’ and ‘shallow philosophy’ (Child & Karcher, 1997). In casting men’s position against women, Child quotes that whereas women may be considered ludicrous and improper in some kinds of proceedings, men may also come out as ridiculous and disgraceful in the same (Child & Karcher, 1997). By quoting Maria Edgeworth, she indicates a beautiful nature in women than men may lack; that of learning and sums up that; truly the great in the society should not proclaim themselves; but rather be seen by the virtue of their acts. Developed into a genre, the Letters from New York, written by Child in columns as stories of newspaper then appear to serve a very important function of communica.............