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.
The letter written by Abigail Adams’ is meant for 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 communicating what originates from deep within the heart of the woman. In essence, there evidently exists a large expression of social criticism advances of feminism (Child & Karcher, 1997).
Comparison and Contrast of Abigail Adams’ Letter to Her Husband and Lydia Maria Child’s Letter XXXIV
A comparison of Abigail Adams’ Letter to Her Husband and Lydia Maria Child’s Letter XXXIV indicate an overwhelming amount of similarities related to the artists, theme,
tone, point-of-view, character, and setting. Again, it is worth noting that issues like gender, gender struggle, history, religion, and politics receive a lot of coverage in both works by the two writers.
First, both the works are presented as letters which are all published. By identifying their letter genre, they probably get to attract more attention than if they were posted as ordinary articles or other forms of communiqués. It is further coincidentally notable that both the authors are ladies, although the timelines of the two publications are separated by a number of decades.
From the two writings, it is quite evident that the society had previously looked down upon women. In sum, women feel oppressed and overrun by societal prejudiced views. Thus, Abigail Adams indicates when she requests a better position for women in the new society, that their men should ‘treat them better than their ancestors did’ (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013). In a similar way, Maria Child opens her text by indicating that she detests the position given to the woman by the society from which her opinion of societal maxims comes as ‘mawkish sentiment’ and ‘shallow philosophy.’ It is for this reason that the two write out to protest this position (Child & Karcher, 1997).
Assertiveness, determination and conviction, are yet other characters brought out in the women as by these letters. While Abigail indicates that they will press for a rebellion if they are denied what they view as rightfully theirs, she goes ahead to point out that accountability for such acts should not be entrenched in any law that does not recognize or represent them well (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013). When merged with the presentations of Child on the same, it is easily observable that not only do women feel oppressed, but also, they have reached a point where they are determined to fight their best in order to overcome this.
Nonetheless, there appears to exist a misgiving, generalization, and fallacy against men. More strongly, Abigail posits that all men bear the potential of being tyrants. Not only does she present this as a supposition but proceeds to indicate that this position is undisputed. If one were to read John Adam’s response to her, the contrary arises. Yet, even in her own letter, she presents a paradoxical position supposing that men still have the ability to willfully overcome this (Thelizlibrary.org, 2013). So is the case of Child, supposing that all men are endowed with lesser learning abilities, yet implicating them in negativities like political fights that end in black eyes (Child & Karcher, 1997).
Two major themes that clearly emerge in both letters are feminism and social criticism. To a wide extent, the theme of women oppression is merged with feminism as they advance the same courses for the benefit of women in both cases. Markedly, both Child and Abigail analyze and criticize the societal principles that oppress women in detail. Yet, in both the texts, advocacy is also one of the most outstanding issues.
In summary, the letters bring out Abigail and Child as articulate, assertive, determined to achieve their course, and feministic. Although societal structures did not favour women traditionally, both the writers appear overly critical of men. Yet they both achieve an extent of eloquence that makes them deliver their information quite successfully. The two major themes that clearly emerge in both letters are feminism and social criticism. To a wide extent, the theme of women oppression is merged with feminism as they advance the same courses for the benefit of women in both cases. Both works are presented as letters which are all published. By identifying their letter genre and it is further coincidentally notable that both the authors are ladies, although the timelines of the two publications are separated by a number of decades.

References
Child, L. M., & Karcher, C. L. (1997). A Lydia Maria Child reader. Durham: Duke University Press.
Thelizlibrary.org (2013). LETTERS OF ABIGAIL ADAMS. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013].