A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams

“I think it would be better if women served on juries so the partiality of human nature did not always go one way—against the woman.”

Through this dialogue, the author establishes Abigail’s sophisticated understanding of systemic injustice long before the revolution’s political philosophy is fully formed. Her remark moves beyond the specifics of the case to identify the structural flaw in a justice system designed by and for men.

“Women may be domestic beings, John, but we inherit an equal share of curiosity about the world. If nature had formed me of your sex, I should certainly have been a rover.”

This statement encapsulates Abigail’s deep-seated desire for a life beyond the domestic sphere, challenging the era’s prescribed roles for women. It reveals her intellectual and personal restlessness, framing her “wanderlust” as a natural human impulse unfairly restricted by gender. This highlights the tension between her internal ambitions and her societal constraints.

“I mean that we’ll be called upon to heroically struggle with the calamities of life. And to patiently resign ourselves to evils we cannot avoid rather than shrink like cowards from the post allotted us by the Great Director of the Theater of the Universe, before we’ve finished our part in the drama.”

This articulates the philosophy of female stoicism that was expected during the revolutionary era. By invoking the “Great Director of the Theater of the Universe,” Warren suggests that women’s suffering is not only necessary but also preordained, a part of a divine drama. Although Abigail admires Warren’s success as a playwright, unusual for this time period, the latter’s views on a woman’s role clearly diverge from that of her friend.

“‘I cannot but laugh at what you say about the ladies,’ John wrote. ‘We know better than to repeal our masculine systems, which would completely subject us to the despotism of the petticoat.’”

John’s laughing dismissal of Abigail’s plea starkly illustrates the theme of Marriage as an Unequal Partnership. His use of phrases like “masculine systems” and “despotism of the petticoat” reveals the deeply entrenched patriarchal mindset of the era, treating a serious appeal for legal rights as a mere joke between spouses. Although John is progressive in his relationship with Abigail, he still encapsulates the gender inequity that existed at this time.

“And which states prevented you from remembering the ladies? The declaration says all men are created equal. Whilst you are proclaiming peace and goodwill to men, and wishing to emancipate all nations, why must you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives?”

Abigail directly confronts a paradox of the American Revolution, questioning why the fight for liberty from tyranny does not extend to women within the domestic sphere. By invoking the language of the Declaration and emancipation, she exposes the hypocrisy of founding a nation on principles of equality while legally subjugating wives.

“Yet, in a choice between ensuring the safety and happiness of his wife and child, or that of the country being birthed, John had chosen the country. And I was only beginning to understand that he always would.”

This moment crystalizes The Toll of Public Service on Family, for Abigail realizes that John will always put his service to the nation before their family. Furthermore, her personal sacrifices are secondary to John’s public duty, a painful truth that is a shift in her understanding of their marriage from a partnership to a hierarchy of obligations.

“In the portrait, a shield supported the matron’s arm, and emblazoned upon it were the words I yield—whatever is—is right.”

The Portia pendant is a symbol of the stoic, self-sacrificing ideal John imposes on Abigail. The motto explicitly instructs her to accept her fate without complaint, reinforcing the expectation that her role is one of passive endurance for the sake of his career and country and emphasizing the theme of Marriage as an Unequal Partnership.

“I remembered the example of Boudica, the ancient warrioress who drove her own chariot into battle. I likely made an equally curious sight on the roads of staid Braintree.”

This classical allusion to the warrior queen Boudica signifies a key shift in Abigail’s self-perception. Forced into financial independence, she re-frames her mercantile activities not as a mere necessity but as a form of combat. This characterization elevates her domestic and economic struggles, aligning her with a heroic, rebellious female figure, emphasizing her strength and independence.

“If I had known, sir, that Mr. Adams could’ve achieved what he has in creating this country, I’d not only have submitted to the painful absence I’ve already endured, but I’d have not opposed even more years apart. For I consider the happiness of myself and family the smallest dust in the balance.”

Abigail’s declaration, made publicly at the war’s end, powerfully illustrates the theme of The Toll of Public Service on Family. The metaphor of her family’s happiness as “the smallest dust in the balance” reveals the immense scale of personal sacrifice she believes is required by revolutionary patriotism, subordinating private emotional needs to the larger historical cause.

“If I made you doubt my love, it’s the greatest regret of my life. I am sorry, Abigail.”

John’s apology upon their reunion in London marks the emotional climax of their long separation. His direct admission of fault and regret validates the years of pain and neglect Abigail experienced, as chronicled through their correspondence. This moment of vulnerability allows their marriage to be rebuilt, shifting the power dynamic from one of presumed duty to one of acknowledged partnership.

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is a natural manure.”

This famous quote encapsulates Jefferson’s more radical view of revolution compared to the Adamses’ belief in order. His metaphor of blood as “natural manure” portrays political violence not as an essential, organic process for maintaining a healthy republic, showing a key philosophical difference between the founders.

“But then I wondered if Sally’s mother knew of the French Freedom Principle, which held, in theory, that any enslaved person was emancipated when setting foot on French soil.”

This internal reflection reveals Abigail’s astute political consciousness and growing abolitionist sentiment. Her speculation about Sally Hemings’s mother’s motives shows her ability to see beyond the surface and recognize the strategic ways the enslaved sought freedom. The moment emphasizes the deep moral contradictions of the founding of America, particularly embodied by her friend, Thomas Jefferson.

“The jilted owner was so desperate to sell that he accepted two hundred pounds less than his set price. Thus, Tyler’s villainy delivered into our hands the most wonderfully situated domicile, with fields to plow and fruit trees to pluck and a picturesque view of the bay besides.”

The purchase of their new home, later named Peacefield, is layered with irony. That the house becomes available due to the disgrace of Nabby’s former suitor suggests a kind of poetic justice. The home itself, with its fields and trees, symbolizes the American ideal of a virtuous, pastoral life that the Adamses can finally cultivate after years of turmoil.

“If he died, could my brilliant but irascible husband do the same? I simply did not know. And everything felt in such a precarious state.”

Abigail reflects on the nation’s fragility after learning of President Washington’s life-threatening illness. This internal questioning establishes the instability of the early republic. Her fear that John may become president if Washington dies emphasizes the theme of The Toll of Public Service on Family, as she grasps the immense burden that could fall upon her husband.

“Feigning shock, I said, ‘What corrupt intrigue. Why, John, they must have had real fears that you’d get the greatest number of votes, defeat Washington, and win the presidency!’”

Abigail’s response to John’s fury over the election results showcases her sharp political intellect and emotional intelligence. Instead of directly confronting his wounded pride, she reframes the situation with feigned shock and flattery, skillfully guiding him toward a less self-destructive conclusion. This demonstrates her important role as his closest political advisor.

“‘The problem is that I like Jefferson,’ John confessed. ‘But these days, in almost every political matter, Hamilton is right, and Jefferson is wrong.’”

John’s confession to Abigail reveals the painful intersection of personal friendship and political ideology. He acknowledges his affection for Jefferson while simultaneously siding with Hamilton on policy matters. This moment crystallizes the emerging party divisions, showing how political necessity was forcing a painful realignment of loyalties among the founding fathers.

“Their great expectation was founded upon the hope of our internal disunion—a hope encouraged by Americans who associated with the ruling men in France. And amongst them, we must now count Thomas Jefferson.”

Abigail presents Jefferson not merely as a political opponent but as a figure encouraging foreign aggression against his own country. This passage exemplifies the extreme polarization of the era, where partisan divisions were viewed through the lens of national loyalty and potential treason. It also highlights the shift in the personal relationship between Jefferson and Adams, for they move from being close friends to fierce foes.

“With my investments, I’d make of our home a place that could shield our family. I’d make Peacefield live up to its name as our sanctuary against what may come.”

This resolution establishes the symbolic importance of Peacefield as a refuge from the dangers of the political world. Abigail’s determination to build this sanctuary using her own investments highlights the theme of The Invisible Labor of Women, as she uses her secretly earned capital to protect her family.

“‘Happy Washington to be childless!’ John barked. ‘My children give me more pain than all my enemies.’”

John’s raw outburst when learning of Charles’ downfall reveals the personal cost of his public life, illustrating the theme of The Toll of Public Service on Family. The comparison to the childless Washington emphasizes the unique burdens the Adamses bear. This despair shows how presidential pressures have eroded John’s resilience, causing him to see his children as sources of pain. He later regrets this statement, but it highlights how difficult it is to manage a family while serving a country.

“Then you ought to warn him, Mrs. Adams. Because I do not intend to sit idly by. I will use my influence to encourage another candidate.”

After Abigail addresses the army when it is disbanded, Alexander Hamilton threatens not just John Adams but Abigail herself, recognizing her as a key political advisor. This tense dialogue dramatizes the bitter factionalism that defined the era’s politics. It also highlights Hamilton’s ambition and his willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed.

“If a chief magistrate can by his will alone annul a law with pardons, where is the difference between a republican and a despotic government?”

In a secret letter to President Jefferson, Abigail engages in a sharp political debate, challenging his use of presidential power. This rhetorical question demonstrates her sophisticated legal and constitutional reasoning, a skill honed over decades of advising her husband. The correspondence, conducted without John’s knowledge, is also a bold act of personal and intellectual autonomy, representing her circumvention of patriarchal expectations.

“How could you encourage John Quincy when you know very well that if he goes to Russia, we will never live long enough to see him again?”

Abigail confronts John after he supports their son’s diplomatic appointment to Russia. Her desperate question highlights her motherly fears that she may never see her son again, as well as the theme of The Toll of Public Service on Family. Here, she frames patriotic duty as a destructive force that tears families apart.

“She had never screamed—not once. The heroine had endured it all with such fortitude that the doctors all proclaimed her the most stoic patient they had ever encountered.”

This passage describes Nabby’s endurance during her mastectomy, a brutal surgery conducted without anesthesia. Nabby’s stoicism is presented as heroic, a quiet form of strength that parallels the more public bravery of soldiers in battle. By making this comparison, the authors highlight another way women are invisible, in that they quietly endure even the most horrific circumstances.