This film analysis will define the limitations of President Lincoln’s depiction as a singular leader in the abolition of slavery and the victory of the Civil War in Lincoln (2012) by Steven Spielberg. In Spielberg’s film, the end of the Civil War projects the victorious aspects of Lincoln’s leadership through charm, wit, and humor to end slavery and the win the Civil War in 1865. However, the historical focus of this film neglects the significance of The Emancipation Proclamation, the role of Abolitionist leaders, and black leaders, such as Frederick Douglas, in a more collective fight to end slavery. Lincoln is often projected as the singular source of the ending of slavery, which is historical inaccurate. Historically, Lincoln was initially
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Of course, there is no mention of Frederick Douglas (as a major African American leader), or the role of the northern abolitionist movements that created the political undercurrent that made it possible to gather political support to fight the south during the Civil War. In this manner, Spielberg does not accurately present the collectivist leadership of the Union government during the Civil War, since the primary focus is on Lincoln’s singular role as a military and political leader that ended the Civil War on his own terms. This is an inaccuracy in the film, which does not persuade the viewer to understand the multiple roles of many leaders that led to the abolition of slavery and the end of the Civil War.
Finally, Lincoln’s personal life reveals the harsh reality of family dysfunction in his failed relationship with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Spielberg presents the dysfunctional aspects of Mary Todd’s decreasing mental stability, which often embarrasses Lincoln as a leader. Mary Todd was known to hold lavish parties during a time when every single resource needed to go the war effort, which undermined Lincoln’s leadership. More so, the film projects the negative aspects of Lincoln’s relationship when he discusses the war with his …show more content…
The film shows the bitterness of Mary Todd’s anger at not being loved by her husband, which also reinforces the singular role of Lincoln as a leader of the nation. This is major part of the film, which does reveal the emotional incapacity of Lincoln to have a fulfilling and trusting relationship with wife. These are important aspects of the film that do show the fallibility of Lincoln’s family life, which tarnishes the perceived “greatness’ of a leader that is often gloried by military and political prowess. Spielberg injects a mix of Lincoln’s dysfunctional martial life as a means of presenting a realistic evaluation of the failure of his family life during the end of the Civil
Of course, there is no mention of Frederick Douglas (as a major African American leader), or the role of the northern abolitionist movements that created the political undercurrent that made it possible to gather political support to fight the south during the Civil War. In this manner, Spielberg does not accurately present the collectivist leadership of the Union government during the Civil War, since the primary focus is on Lincoln’s singular role as a military and political leader that ended the Civil War on his own terms. This is an inaccuracy in the film, which does not persuade the viewer to understand the multiple roles of many leaders that led to the abolition of slavery and the end of the Civil War.
Finally, Lincoln’s personal life reveals the harsh reality of family dysfunction in his failed relationship with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Spielberg presents the dysfunctional aspects of Mary Todd’s decreasing mental stability, which often embarrasses Lincoln as a leader. Mary Todd was known to hold lavish parties during a time when every single resource needed to go the war effort, which undermined Lincoln’s leadership. More so, the film projects the negative aspects of Lincoln’s relationship when he discusses the war with his …show more content…
The film shows the bitterness of Mary Todd’s anger at not being loved by her husband, which also reinforces the singular role of Lincoln as a leader of the nation. This is major part of the film, which does reveal the emotional incapacity of Lincoln to have a fulfilling and trusting relationship with wife. These are important aspects of the film that do show the fallibility of Lincoln’s family life, which tarnishes the perceived “greatness’ of a leader that is often gloried by military and political prowess. Spielberg injects a mix of Lincoln’s dysfunctional martial life as a means of presenting a realistic evaluation of the failure of his family life during the end of the Civil