Behind The Scene Keckley Sparknotes

Elizabeth Keckley, who was born a slave grew up to be a well-known dressmaker, in her autobiography, she talks about her life as a slave, the pain and the suffering she went through her childhood to her adulthood. She also talks about how she became successful and how she soon started her own business and bought her freedom by her herself. Keckley became well known because of her skills in dressmaking, and it landed her in the white house and that was how she started making the first lady’s dresses and became close with Mary Lincoln. Not only did Keckley talk about her life in her autobiography, she also talks mostly about the white house and the Lincoln’s family most especially, Mary Lincoln. Elizabeth Keckley wrote her autobiography, “Behind the …show more content…
This book revolves around Mary as Keckley talks about Mary’s personal life, her family, love life and all the problems she went through including the president’s death and her son’s death. There was no other reason why Keckley would want to write about Mary’s life if not to save her from the citizens judging her. Keckley got close to the Lincoln’s family and was the only person who dresses the first lady up for every event, she got to know about the family and was always there for them especially Mary. Keckley probably felt like she owed Mary because she was the one who fulfilled her dream of wanting to work in the white house (Keckley 76), and that is probably why she wrote this book in order to save Mary’s reputation because she felt like she owe her a lot. Keckley probably wanted to save Mary’s reputation because Mary was the closest friend she had and she always looked out for her even when she doesn’t need to. Even though Keckley never showed affection to Mary but deep down she liked her if not she wouldn’t have stood by her even after the president’s death. Their relationship was sisterly and that is why Keckley wanted to defend Mary’s