Lincoln Movie Reflection
The movie, Lincoln, focused on the later years of the president’s life, when he was trying to pass the 13th amendment, which eradicated slavery. This time frame was important to the director because he couldn’t possibly chronicle Lincoln’s entire life without rushing over details, and the abolition of slavery is one of what Lincoln is most remembered for.
Oddly enough, many outside sources actually claim Abraham Lincoln to be racist. However, in the movie, Lincoln was depicted as a quiet, thoughtful man who respected African Americans. This could be seen in the opening scene, where he addressed a pair of black Union soldiers, acknowledging their service. His actions concerning their race beforehand were also reflected optimistically; one of these black soldiers respected Lincoln so highly he had the president’s Gettysburg address memorized by heart—a pair of white soldiers were just cut off from reciting it earlier so this black soldier picked off right from where they left. Lincoln appeared touched by this, smiling before he returned to his usual pose: a thoughtful, solitary pose, which he assumed many times throughout the film.
This indicated he was thinking, and he could think to himself anywhere—as long as he was mostly alone. That part was important in the movie. In the presence of others, he spoke confidently, always a story up his sleeve to package his ideas in, but when he was alone or with only a few people, Lincoln said little if not none at all, like the scenes where he was looking at old family pictures in the light of the fireplace by his sleeping son, and when he was alone in the big room beside his telegraph messengers, trying to put to words what he wanted to say.
He thought this much because of the circumstances. The 13th amendment had to pass before the end of the war or support for it will drop. To him, its passing was just as important as ending the war itself. He was anti-slavery and it was an opportunity to make the battles mean more than a
Oddly enough, many outside sources actually claim Abraham Lincoln to be racist. However, in the movie, Lincoln was depicted as a quiet, thoughtful man who respected African Americans. This could be seen in the opening scene, where he addressed a pair of black Union soldiers, acknowledging their service. His actions concerning their race beforehand were also reflected optimistically; one of these black soldiers respected Lincoln so highly he had the president’s Gettysburg address memorized by heart—a pair of white soldiers were just cut off from reciting it earlier so this black soldier picked off right from where they left. Lincoln appeared touched by this, smiling before he returned to his usual pose: a thoughtful, solitary pose, which he assumed many times throughout the film.
This indicated he was thinking, and he could think to himself anywhere—as long as he was mostly alone. That part was important in the movie. In the presence of others, he spoke confidently, always a story up his sleeve to package his ideas in, but when he was alone or with only a few people, Lincoln said little if not none at all, like the scenes where he was looking at old family pictures in the light of the fireplace by his sleeping son, and when he was alone in the big room beside his telegraph messengers, trying to put to words what he wanted to say.
He thought this much because of the circumstances. The 13th amendment had to pass before the end of the war or support for it will drop. To him, its passing was just as important as ending the war itself. He was anti-slavery and it was an opportunity to make the battles mean more than a