ROAR Journal Entry 2

Salma El-Behaedi
Understanding Thomas Jefferson
Pages 25-50


5 Things I Understand

1) Much controversy goes on throughout Massachusetts about Thomas Jefferson's love life. Thomas Jefferson is put in a state of confusion and misunderstanding.

2) In the summer, Jefferson decides to go and fulfill his promise of visiting Betsy in Virginia. Betsy was a widow who had become very close to Jefferson. Jefferson fell in love with Betsy and he would often visit her.

3) Thomas Jefferson falls in love with a widow named Martha Skelton. Jefferson decides to marry Martha and they lead a beautiful life together. Jefferson describes Martha so well that it seems like she is the most beautiful lady in the world.

4) Martha Skelton dies leaving Jefferson in a state of shock. Jefferson went into depression for seven months and even when he came out of it he found it very hard to even mention Martha's name. He destroyed all the letters that had been sent between the both of them.

5) Since Thomas Jefferson was absent for long periods because of Martha, many individuals such as John Adams who were also part of the Continental Congress would send him letters requesting that he come help them.

4 Questions

1) Why did Jefferson seem to fall in love most with widows? Was there a personal reason for that?

2) Was Martha Skelton's family well known in Virginia like Jefferson's family and if so, did that have any specific effect on Jefferson's decisions?

3) What was the major personality factor that Jefferson valued more that Martha had but Betsy didn't?

4) Didn't Jefferson ever worry about losing his job in the Continental Congress since he was absent so much for Martha?


3 Vocabulary Words

incoherently( page 27): Loose and inconsistent

envisaged ( page 33): to view or picture

decrepitude ( page 45): Being weak and run down

2 Literary Devices

1) Personification
"The brighter side to Jefferson's cloud of gloom...." ( page 45)

2) Characterization
"...a musician, a geomatrician, an astronomer, a natural philosopher..."( page 48)

1 Sentence Overview

Thomas Jefferson falls in love with Martha Skelton yet has to deal with the horrid truth that she has died. Members at the Continental Congress send Jefferson letters requesting his help and presence.