Lincoln: Analysis of Major Characters
"Lincoln: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate personalities surrounding Abraham Lincoln during his presidency. Lincoln himself is presented as a multifaceted leader, often underestimated by his contemporaries. Described as both a shrewd political strategist and a compassionate figure, his ability to connect with the American public and his deep loyalty to his family, particularly to his wife Mary Todd Lincoln and their children, reveal the complexity of his character.
Mary Todd Lincoln is depicted as a strong-willed and opinionated woman whose intense personality often causes friction with Lincoln's associates. Despite being viewed as a liability in the political arena, Lincoln's unwavering support for her reflects his deep emotional commitment. The analysis also highlights key figures in Lincoln's cabinet, such as John Hay, who serves as a confidant and adviser, and William Seward, who evolves from a critical opponent to a crucial ally. Salmon P. Chase emerges as a radical abolitionist who initially questions Lincoln's political acumen but ultimately recognizes his capabilities.
In contrast, Edwin Stanton is portrayed as a dedicated yet critical figure in the war cabinet, displaying a complex relationship with Lincoln. The narrative also includes darker characters like David Herold and John Wilkes Booth, the latter being the infamous assassin driven by deep-seated animosity toward Lincoln and the Union. This overview of characters provides insights into the diverse dynamics and tensions that shaped Lincoln's presidency during a pivotal period in American history.
Lincoln: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Gore Vidal
First published: 1984
Genre: Novel
Locale: Washington, D.C.
Plot: Historical
Time: 1861–1865
Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. The Lincoln portrayed here, nicknamed “The Ty-coon” by close associates in the White House, is a complex man. Not only is he the Lincoln usually portrayed in biographies—the jesting, self-deprecating backwoods sage—but he also is a complex, calculating man of genius with an acutely accurate awareness of what the American people support. Thought to be a country bumpkin by such cabinet members as Salmon Chase and William Seward prior to his arrival at the White House, he soon amazes them with his wily command of politics and situations. His love and concern for the Union soldiers fighting the battles of the Civil War is as deep as the love he shows for his eccentric wife, Mary, and his children.
Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincoln's wife, nearly as complex a character as her husband. An opinionated and strong-willed woman who often clashes with her husband's associates, Mary is distinctly a liability to Abraham's political fortunes. He deflects criticism of her, loyally supporting her bad moods and extravagant spending to the end of his life.
John Hay, President Lincoln's Harvard-trained personal secretary and confidant. A good-natured, often high-spirited young man, as well as an aesthete in a White House filled with philistines, Hay is portrayed as an invaluable source of political insights for Lincoln as well as a much-needed admirer, friend, adviser, and sounding board.
William Seward, the handsome U.S. secretary of state under Lincoln and Lincoln's onetime political opponent. Seward is a rather self-congratulatory, pompous individual, with a penchant for speaking his mind on many subjects. A formidable presence on the Lincoln cabinet and a capable overseer of the war effort, Seward initially believed the Southern states ought to be allowed to go their own way without Northern interference. Under pressure from Lincoln, he changed his mind.
Salmon P. Chase, the U.S. secretary of the Treasury. Known as the radical abolitionist of President Lincoln's cabinet, Chase feared that the president was too ordinary a politician for the demands of his position. He came to realize, much to his chagrin, what a knowledgeable, wily leader Lincoln really was. A bachelor father, he devotes his affection to his twenty-three-year-old daughter, Kate, and she reciprocates that love.
Edwin Stanton, the U.S. secretary of war. Stanton, large in stature and firm of opinion, is a balding, bespectacled strategist who has the habit of sneering at others' ideas. Although not fond of Lincoln, Stanton works hard for him and for the Union war effort.
David Herold, a dull-witted, uncouth young hooligan and self-confessed enemy of both the Union cause and President Lincoln. Drifting around the brothels of Washington, D.C., and environs, he searches for a way to kill the president. He joins with a group of coconspirators, the chief of whom is John Wilkes Booth. Booth has the brains and instincts Herold lacks, so it is he rather than Herold who assassinates Lincoln.
John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln. This Southern actor is portrayed as a shadowy, hate-filled figure who stalks his sworn enemy to avenge the South's defeat in the Civil War. Self-consciously theatrical, Booth comes across as an often ludicrously affected man hamstrung at times by his own ineptitude.