Outside Reading: John Adams

This book is a biography about the life and works of John Adams, a vice president and later president of the United States, along with being an incredibly influential person surrounding the constitutional writings of the new country. In the beginning of the book, the author takes a very descriptive view of John Adams as if he were alive today, posing directly in front of us. When referencing his appearance, McCullough writes, "Dismounted, he stood five feet seven or eight inches tall - about 'middle-size' in that day - and though verging on portly, he had a straight-up, square-shouldered stance and was, in fact, surprisingly fit and solid. His hands were the hands of a man accustomed to pruning his own trees, cutting his own hay, and splitting his own firewood" (18). Not only does this quote give us a vivid description of John Adam's looks, but also a glimpse into his character. By stating that Adams was a man to do his own work we can see that he was a man of pride, as well as old-fashioned values. Throughout the characterization of John Adams, McCullough also includes glimpses into his way of thinking and opinions of mankind. McCullough does this by describing the various authors that fascinated Adams, "He read Cicero, Tacitus, and others of his Roman heroes in Latin, and Plato and Thucydides in the original Greek, which he considered the supreme language. But in his need to fathom the 'labyrinth' of human nature, as he said, he was drawn to Shakespeare and Swift, and likely to carry Cervantes or a volume of English poetry with him on his journeys" (19). By describing what literature most intrigued Adams and his response to it, we can connect with him personally through the allusions to other literary works that are available for our own reading and learning. We also get a clear picture of John Adams as a very studious, reflective, and intelligent man.

Although many people are somewhat aware of the circumstances that surrounded the writing of the Declaration of Independence, McCullough makes it a point to show us how difficult the time was for many people, including John and his relationship with his wife Abigail. Because Adams was required to travel to Philadelphia for the convening of the Continental Congress, he was separated from his wife for very long periods of time. McCullough uses their personal correspondence during this time to give us an intimate view into their relationship and respect for each other. In one quote from Abigail to her husband we can see how loyal of a wife she is, "Winter makes its approaches fast... I hope I shall not be obliged to spend it without my dearest friend... I have been like a nun in a cloister ever since you went away" (21). The reference to her husband as her "dearest friend" is an obvious example of the love they shared, as well as a tribute to John Adam's character that even though he must be absent for sometimes months on end, Abigail never faltered in her esteem for him. In another instance of quoting the couple's correspondence, McCullough uses their conversation to describe the current situation of the country. When Abigail had requested John buy her pins, the lack thereof described shows how bare the country was of many simple items. In her letter she wrote, "The cry for pins is so great that what we used to buy for 7 shillings and six pence are now 20 shillings and not to be had for that" (21). By using the Adam's personal writings to elaborate on the situation at the time, we as readers get a very personal view of the life they were required to live.
Citation:
McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.