How Does Chesterfield Appeal To His Son

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Lord Chesterfield, in his letter, illustrates advice intended for his son about important life decisions while the boy is traveling overseas. Chesterfield employs a wise and protective tone to appeal to his son, all in hopes that he will regard his advice. By using constructive diction, contrasting opinions, and a passive tone. Chesterfield reveals his own values to his son through a loving atmosphere and accomplishes his goal in providing a guiding manual for his son to follow. In order to appeal to his son, Chesterfield chooses his words extremely carefully so that his son might pay attention to what he has to say. His overlaying sense of care and concern for his son is expressed through loving diction. Chesterfield addresses his son by …show more content…

While advising his son Chesterfield tells him, “Do not think that I mean to dictate as a parent; I only mean to advise as a friend.” The first sentence creates a harsh and final tone that gives no room for a child to express his own beliefs while the second sentence is more careful and understanding that a child must make his own mistakes. Chesterfield explains to his son that he knows he must make his own decisions but that, as a father, he is available to guide him in the right direction. By defining his standing point as a friend, Chesterfield’s son will be more willing to listen to his father because he has more room to have free will. If Chesterfield had just stated that he was advising as a friend and had not included the first explanation, he would have lost the opposing view and his son would not have seen how bad his father could have controlled him. Later in his letter, Chesterfield also explains the vitality of attention and application in learning by saying he does not, “mention them as duties; but points them out as conducive, nay, absolutely necessary to pleasures.” Again, Chesterfield is seen pointing out what could have been said to contrast what he says to what other’s might say. By providing contrasting ideas, Chesterfield makes the reader pay more attention to the thing that he does do, not to the thing he does not do. By refuting one thing, Chesterfield …show more content…

Chesterfield addresses his son first by saying, “I know that those who want it most, like it and follow it least; and I know, too, that the advice of parents is ascribed to the moroseness, the imperiousness and the garrulity of old age.” By demonstrating all the information he knows, Chesterfield sets up the letter to be countered. Even though he knows all these things that conclude a son will not listen to his father, he wants his son to listen anyway. This idea conveys a certain importance to what Chesterfield has to say. Chesterfield dismisses all doubt and argument against his advice right away by metaphorically saying “listen to me anyway.” Later Chesterfield acknowledges his son by saying, “I am convinced that you will act right: I mean, for the sake of doing right, and out of affection and gratitude to me.” Chesterfield qualifies his son’s actions and explains his expectations for his son through a passive and sarcastic tone. Instead of directly telling his son to act appropriately or else he will be punished, Chesterfield explains to his son that he hopes he will act right for the good of acting right. This again gives Chesterfield’s son room to express himself and not just follow orders like a robot which provides a better chance for his son to listen to him. By indirectly telling his son that he owes him for all the advice he has given him, Chesterfield uses guilt to persuade his son into

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