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Chesterfield Letter To His Son Analysis

Decent Essays

In Chesterfield’s heartfelt letter to his young son overseas, he proclaims his feelings and offers moral and mental advice as a friend rather than as a father. The values he explains within the letter enhance his desire for a willingness and acceptance of any truth and advice given to his boy, an implement concerning work ethics, and an extended importance with education. By using direct language, pathos, and rhetorical questions, he describes his ideal goals and aspirations for his son. Using direct language, he enhances the desire for acceptance of any truths and advice offered to him. Stating a stereotypical fact that advice is normally unwelcomed when offered by an adult fully displays how Chesterfield is exhibiting that he knows his son is one of those stereotypes. Trying to gain comfort and his longing for his son to actually listen and take everything seriously, Chesterfield states, “Do not think that I mean to dictate as a parent; I only mean to advise as a friend..”, which presents the letter as a comfortable conversation to undertake. Direct language plays a very important role in this letter by explicitly saying …show more content…

When the line “... I am convinced that you will act right, upon more noble and generous principles...out of affection and gratitude to me.” is stated, a sense of repetition comes into play supporting the emotional appeal to please his father and make him proud. Shortly after he proclaims this expectation to his son, he goes on to bring up the thought that people know about the “uncommon care” put into his education and the opportunities that were available to him, but were taken too lightly to be reached. Work ethics are underappreciated and in Lord Chesterfield’s mind, are an important goal for his son to

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