Dear Child of Mine

577 Words2 Pages

Thomas Jefferson, writes to his daughter Patsy, trying to give some advice to his daughter while he is away. Continually, Lord Chesterfield has written a letter to his son about advice Chesterfield wishes his son would follow, while his son is travelling away from home. Jefferson and Chesterfield's letters are comparable, and completely contrasted in the way they write to their children. Moreover, Chesterfield and Jefferson are comparable in their values, and how they are demonstrated through rhetorical strategies. Both fathers wish for their children to obtain great knowledge in order to succeed. Jefferson had wanted Patsy to be “more qualified than common,” as did Chesterfield when he told his son that it is embarrassing to be excelled by others. Chesterfield had said it was “absolutely necessary to [his son’s] pleasures” to rise above all of his peers. Jefferson repeatedly uses variations of happiness and practice, coming together when he mentions that employing oneself in their work will help them to accomplish the “perfect knowledge,” and emphasizing his ideal that is Pasty i...

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