Abe Lincoln in Illinois (Masterplots, Definitive Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Robert E. Sherwood
- First Published: 1939
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Historical chronicle
- Time of Work: 1831-1861
- Setting: New Salem and Springfield, Illinois
- Principal Characters: Mentor Graham, Abe Lincoln, Ann Rutledge, Judge Bowling Green, Ninian Edwards, Joshua Speed, William Herndon, Mary Todd, Stephen A. Douglas, Seth Gale, Jimmie Gale
- Genres: Drama, Biographical drama, History play
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Abolitionists, Nineteenth century, Midwest, Civil War, Assassination, Democracy, Presidents, Illinois, Heads of state, Debates or debating
- Locales: Springfield, IL
Critique:
Robert Sherwood saw in the struggles of Abe Lincoln a symbol of democracy in action. The playwright was able to stick fairly close to the facts of Lincoln’s life in working out his allegory of the growth of the democratic spirit, but in several scenes he was forced to invent fictitious characters or incidents to make his point. Whether the play be viewed as history or allegory, it remains as authentically American as its leading character.
The Story:
In the summer of 1831, when Abe Lincoln was twenty-two years old, he arrived in New Salem, Illinois,...
[The entire page is 1851 words long]
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