Throughout the drama, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” author, Robert Emmet Sherwood presents the themes of death, doubt, and war and peace. Sherwood conveys these themes through the use of structure, character development, and language. This Pulitzer Prize-winning drama contains the historical context of Abraham Lincoln’s life and reflects various experiences he faced from his early, unsuccessful days as a postmaster in New Salem and closes with his election to the presidency and departure for Washington. Sherwood’s previous works led to his discovery as he later became a speechwriter for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After this drama had erupted on Broadway, Sherwood said, 'To be able to write a play a man must be sensitive, imaginative, naive, gullible, passionate: he must be something of an imbecile, something of a poet, something of a liar, something of a damn fool... He must be prepared to make a public spectacle of himself. He must be independent and brave.”(Francis) This quote demonstrates Sherwood’s thick skin as he constantly ridiculed public figures in his anti-war movements in support of the common theme in his play futility of war.
From beginning to end, Lincoln’s life was controlled by the feelings about the deaths that he had witnessed. This is seen in the opening scene of the drama as Lincoln speaks to Mentor Graham and tells him how he thinks about death often. Young Abe says, ‘‘because it has always seemed to be close to me—as far back as I can remember’’ (8). He then goes on to describe what it was like to help build his own mother’s coffin, who died at a young age. The theme of death is continued in this narrative structure as Lincoln relates this situation to the death of Ann Rutledge, the woman he had fallen in love with. Her death caused Lincoln to back out of his political rise. He later explains why to Bowling and Nancy Green saying, “I could not give any devotion to one who has power over death so large and uses it.” (30) Although Lincoln was referring to prayer, it can be related to sending troops to war and further conveys Sherwood’s anti-war theme along with the futility of war. Another example portraying the theme of death controlling Lincoln’s actions through Sherwood’s narrative structure is found in the passing away of his friend Bowling Green. As Ann’s death retreats Lincoln from his political involvement, the death of Bowling pulls him out of his next marriage to his new love, Mary Todd. Although these death experiences usually gave Lincoln negative thoughts, the near-death of Jimmy Gale grasps Lincoln back into his responsibilities in his personal and political lives. In scene 7, Lincoln’s approach to death takes a positive shift. Lincoln prays, “Grant him the freedom of life. Do not deny him his birthright. I humbly beg you to not condemn him the imprisonment of death” (56). Instead of Lincoln’s usual denial and hiding from God, he has matured and accepts that death is a natural occurrence that all will face. This narrative structure displays the character development of Lincoln about the theme of death as he now embraces it unlike before. Scholar Eleanor Flexner described Sherwood’s constant incorporation of death as, ‘‘a device forced upon him by his inability to construct a play in which the suspense will arise from the actions of the characters themselves’’ (Flexner).
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Another theme displayed throughout the drama by Sherwood is doubt. Abraham Lincoln is known and remembered by most as a man with a clear vision whose decisive actions during the Civil War preserved the Union. The Lincoln portrayed in this drama is quite the opposite. Sherwood presents Lincoln as an uncertain man who is incredibly doubtful of himself. An example of this is found in scene 2 as Lincoln lists off plenty of reasons why the people would not want to vote for him and how he was unfit for the position. Sherwood writes, “I am afraid I cannot go quite that far in self-esteem” as the committee offers him the nomination. In addition, Lincoln is not confident in his love life. This is visible when he is asking Ann to go out with him and he asks for her to consider him despite his faults. This is also present as Lincoln sends a letter to Mary Todd before their wedding stating that their marriage would only lead to pain and misery for both of them. In Sherwood's notes for this play, it is stated that the real Lincoln was not as doubtful as portrayed and is presented as growing into confidence for the sake of the drama. This theme again is portrayed through the growth of Lincoln and his confidence or lack thereof.
A final theme conveyed through this drama by Sherwood is one of war and peace. Lincoln’s whole presidency was consumed by the Civil War. As Lincoln does oppose slavery, he does not enough to support a war over it. In scene 4, Lincoln states, “I am opposed to slavery. But I am even more opposed to going to war.” This example further shows how Sherwood incorporates themes through character development and dialogue with Lincoln's struggle between war and peace towards slavery. In the critical essay, 'Bob Sherwood in Illinois' John Mason Brown states that Lincoln moved into the present with a new timeliness as 'a man of peace who had had to face the issue of appeasement or war' (Brown). Lincoln's attitude towards the war in the drama stays consistent and reflects Sherwood’s ideas against war.
The structure of this play allows Sherwood to freely write and jump around as he divides Lincoln’s life into segments. This narrative structure makes the drama rather choppy as Sherwood squeezes three decades of Lincoln’s life into a three-hour drama. It includes many well-known events of Lincoln’s life along with fabricated ones by Sherwood to highlight qualities of Lincoln he thought were important. The consensus among multiple critics of Sherwood’s work agrees that it is not a well-written drama. Even before this play was produced, esteemed scholar Eleanor Flexner predicted many repeated series of events such as, 'A man wise, cynical, and charming finds the answer to his quest for the meaning of life, in a woman; suddenly he falls in love, no less suddenly his life is wrenched from its old pattern, and in three cases out of four he goes gallantly to his death in consequence' (Flexner). By creating the drama without any set structure, Sherwood can easily establish the themes he chose to highlight in Lincoln's life whenever necessary.
Another method Sherwood utilizes to convey themes to the audience is by depicting Lincoln as an everyday American. Lincoln embodies the same strength, doubts, and contradictions throughout the play that many Americans share in their everyday lives. The playwright’s focus on Lincoln’s humanity and contradictions allows the audience to relate more easily to these themes and acknowledge them. One example of this is seen through Lincoln’s love for life but also his various meetings with death. Another example in Lincoln’s life is his sense of greatness that contrasts his inner feelings of mediocrity. A third example of contradiction would be his need for female love in his life but his fear of its consequences. By depicting Lincoln’s many insecurities, Sherwood enables the audience to remember Lincoln as a being on their level and better accept the messages presented to them through the drama. Scholar Carl Sandburg, who studies and comments on works regarding Lincoln, explains to readers, “Sherwood was conscious of using good sources and also of the fact that he needed to change some facts for dramatic purpose” (Sandburg). Although Sherwood slightly embellishes Lincoln’s life, a more interesting story is the end product. This hooks the reader into the drama and allows the audience to think deeper into the themes Sherwood selected to present.
In conclusion, Sherwood successfully conveys his themes through multiple techniques that are understandable, relatable, and direct. The playwright also includes life experiences from Lincoln and himself that the audience can easily pull lessons away from and apply to their everyday life. By the end of this drama, the audience will be able to look back at it and realize how remarkable the life of Abraham Lincoln truly was.
Works Cited
- Brown, John Mason, The Worlds of Robert E. Sherwood: Mirror to His Times, Harper & Row Publishers, 1962.
- Fergusson, Francis, 'Notes on the Theatre,' in The Southern Review, Winter 1940.
- Flexner, Eleanor, American Playwrights, 1918-1938, Simon and Schuster, 1938, pp. 272-82.
- Sandburg, Carl, 'Forward,' in Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1939, pp. Xi.
- Sherwood, Robert E. “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” 1896-1955:London: F. Warne; New York: Scribner 1 Jan. 1970, archive.org/details/abelincolninill0sher/page/10
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