John Adams Rhetorical Analysis

“We live, my dear soul, in an age of trial. What will be the consequence, I know not” said John Adams (McCullough 13). John Adams was a highly Intelligence and educated man. He had numerous life experiences that many will never experience in their entire lifetime. Some were magnificent, some heartbreaking, joyful, painful, jubilant, and some were to go down in history forever. I think that David McCullough’s estimation of Adams quote could have been Adams’ epitaph on page 651 because it explains his life in one phrase. The first part of Adam’s quote “griefs upon griefs! Disappointments upon disappointments” reflects all the hardships he has encounter in his life. From a young lad giving up his desire to farm, to a peevish presidential career including one of the most brutal elections, Adams knew suffering. Some was self-inflicted, others totally out of his control like his poor daughter Nabby. He sought for greatness, which most the time he succeed in, but when he didn’t, he fell hard. …show more content…
Many acts of rebellion and war were encompassing and Adams couldn’t sit back and keep his mouth shut. Sometimes when he got all prepared to aid and serve his country, the work was already done as in Paris. This left him with many frustrations and disappointments
Along the way he also found disappointments and griefs with people. Friends became enemies, like Thomas Jefferson, and some were down right annoying to Adams such as “”venom against Franklin”” (McCullough 317). I can only imagine the heartbreaking feeling of your once close friend becoming an enemy. Different people also evoked jealousy from him. “He had particular regard for those, like George Washington, who somehow managed great reserve” (McCullough 17). He admired and wished he acquired many of his skills including Washington’s army, communication, and leadership

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