In his bestselling book, Manhunt: The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, author James L. Swanson elaborates on personal histories and motivations for each person involved- Union or Confederate- provoking several intriguing questions. Were those convictions from the trials fair in the eye of the law or a result of an impassioned court? How should those who aided Booth be charged? Were there any heroes in the pursuit for Booth? Swanson challenges readers’ preconceived notions of honor and guilt in his book by illustrating the motives of each person involved in Lincoln’s assassination in order to make the reader realize the complexities of principles such as honor and guilt. To begin with, the book raises the question of what the
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Mudd concealed Booth and failed to report him to authorities (C Penn Sect 32). Being a doctor, the doctor-patient confidentiality agreement that existed between the two protected anything that Booth said to Mudd from a court of law while Mudd was serving as his doctor (US Legal). However, Booth stayed with his doctor after had finished treating Booth’s leg. Therefore that contract was broken once Mudd stopped his role as doctor and began his role as host. Coincidentally, Mudd discovered Booth’s actions after he had treated Booth, which means that Mudd should have reported Booth to union soldiers. Mudd, who felt honor bound to protect a wounded fellow Confederate, would be imprisoned for his concealment of …show more content…
Between the two, Laura Keene is the more admirable one described. Keene, not only an extremely talented leading actress, did her best to calm the crowd and provide comfort to the president in the aftermath of the shooting. While her actions to the president did not make a difference, her pure intentions are what make her admirable. Asia Booth Clarke on the other hand relied on her family name for her fame and was blindly loyal to her brother. After her brother’s death, Clarke slaved in secret to write his biography. Family loyalty, although an admirable trait, loses its luster when the devotion to family allows one to excuse an action as immoral as
Mudd concealed Booth and failed to report him to authorities (C Penn Sect 32). Being a doctor, the doctor-patient confidentiality agreement that existed between the two protected anything that Booth said to Mudd from a court of law while Mudd was serving as his doctor (US Legal). However, Booth stayed with his doctor after had finished treating Booth’s leg. Therefore that contract was broken once Mudd stopped his role as doctor and began his role as host. Coincidentally, Mudd discovered Booth’s actions after he had treated Booth, which means that Mudd should have reported Booth to union soldiers. Mudd, who felt honor bound to protect a wounded fellow Confederate, would be imprisoned for his concealment of …show more content…
Between the two, Laura Keene is the more admirable one described. Keene, not only an extremely talented leading actress, did her best to calm the crowd and provide comfort to the president in the aftermath of the shooting. While her actions to the president did not make a difference, her pure intentions are what make her admirable. Asia Booth Clarke on the other hand relied on her family name for her fame and was blindly loyal to her brother. After her brother’s death, Clarke slaved in secret to write his biography. Family loyalty, although an admirable trait, loses its luster when the devotion to family allows one to excuse an action as immoral as