Lincoln – A film review about a
hero’s journey
Fig 1. Lincoln Poster
(2012)
Lincoln (2012) was produced by Stephen Spielberg (Jurassic
Park, Memoirs of a Geisha) and takes place right after Abraham Lincolns (played
by Daniel Day-Lewis) second election as President of the United States in the
midst of the American Civil War. The films plot revolves around Lincoln’s goal
to abolish slavery in America. This review sees the film from the angle of the
concept called “The Hero’s Journey” and follows Lincoln’s path over the three
acts of separation, initiation and return.
Act one starts with the call
to adventure in which the hero, Abraham Lincoln whilst speaking to two
black soldiers establishes his ambition to the audience to end the war and
slavery in the United States of America, his compassion is also brilliantly
portrayed in his sad smile and caring sense of humour.
The refusal of the
call, which, in this case, is both his wife Mary and the United States
Senate, which both reject the idea for a vote on the 13th amendment
as the last one failed during his early presidency which may damage his
relationship with his people. His Secretary of Estate Seward perfectly portrays
his peer’s views when he says: “Why tarnish your invaluable lustre with a
battle in the house that is sure of defeat?” Lincoln softly smiles when
confronted with this truth and tells Steward “I like our chances now”.
Supernatural aid
comes to Lincoln early on in the form of a dream in which he is alone, standing
on top of a ship which is going at god like speed. Upon telling his wife Mary
she suggests that rather it being literally a ship it means that he is on his
own on his quest for the 13th amendment and refers to how it could
mean he must face this challenge alone and time is of the essence.
Crossing the threshold
could be portrayed as visits Preston Blair’s house where he attempts to gain
the full support of his own party for the amendment he is however forced to
also set a peace offer to the Confederates in motion to ensure the support. As
the support of most of the senate for the 13th amendment on both
sides revolves around ending the war this also creates a time frame around the
success of passing the bill, if the war ends the bill will fail to pass.
The next hurdle encountered is the belly of the whale which takes place in his own war cabinet whom
challenges him and his plans: “Why focus on the nation’s attention on slavery
when the war is almost over?” further showing the American nations relationship
to the amendment and further portrays the message of how important it is for
Lincoln to get the amendment passed during the next vote.
Lincoln’s road of
trials is largely dealt with largely in congress as they express their
objections over the abolishment. The mood of the people is also made clear to
Lincoln whilst talking to Mr and Mrs Jolly as they say they will only support
the abolishment if it ends the war else they would prefer to keep their slaves
in chains. In this sense the road of
trials could be considered the entire political environment in the USA that
Lincoln is challenged with.
The goddess is
introduced in the form of Thaddeus Stevens before he meets up with Lincoln
officially for the first time, it is clear that Thaddeus’s views on equality
are far ahead of his time and closer to what we would consider today as true
equality. His attitude and body language present him as a man of enormous
respect and experience and an almost divine like figure in comparison to his
peers. Even Stevens’s use of language portrays him as a man of wisdom and an
almost divine purpose, for example in the congress he states during a heated
debate he replies loudly and bluntly to a racist remark from a peer: “What
violates natural law? Slavery and you, Pendleton, you insult god! You unnatural
noise!” which causes the whole room to at first fall silent as he speaks then
erupt in cheer.
When Lincoln finally gets to meet the goddess, his aim is to get Stevens support and to tone
down his views in front of the senate as Stevens intends to push for full
equality, the “negro vote” and much more, Stevens also shows his contempt for
the evil in the people that voted for him when he says “Shit on the people, I
don’t give a damn what they’re ready for” and that “their inner compass which
should direct the soul to true justice has ossified in white men and women.”
Showing his morality objections for the views of the people that are
politically below him.
Fig 2. The Goddess
(2012)
After dealing with the senate, Lincoln comes home to his
wife who wants to talk him out of letting their oldest son Robert go to fight
in the war. She takes on the form of the
temptress while she pleads for Lincoln to keep their son out of the war.
This is further complicated as Robert himself is embarrassed that his own
father enlisted every able man to join the war but keeps his own son safe far
from the front lines. Lincoln’s personality is brilliantly portrayed as he
tells his wife in a loud and tearful voice “I beg you, for once, try to take
the liberal and not the selfish point of view” after which she threatens him
that he has to answer to her if Robert gets killed. Lincoln replies “You alone
may lighten this burden, or render it intolerable” which ends the argument.
The atonement with the
father is handled quickly in Lincoln as he describes that he has his
passion for ending slavery from his father. Whilst describing his upbringing he
states “He wasn’t a kind man, but there was a rough, moral urge for fairness. I
learned that from him”.
The apotheosis
occurs as Stevens holds back his true opinion when asked outright about his
view on equality. Stevens states before the senate that he does not believe in
in true equality but only equality before the law. When one of his radical
piers approaches him in disgust asking him if there is nothing he wouldn’t say
Stevens replies “to end slavery? No, it seems that there really isn’t anything
I wouldn’t say”.
The ultimate boon
occurs on the day of the vote. During this scene the senate indeed votes to
approve the abolishment of slavery in which the scene erupts into song and
celebration in the entire city of Washington. Many tearful moments are shed
amongst the main characters and Lincoln embraces his son in a bath of evening
sunlight, perhaps a visual metaphor for the brighter times ahead.
Fig 3. The day of the
vote (2012)
Rescue from without occurs
during the vote when Senator Yeaman decides to vote yes in spite of him always
being reserved and cautious on what freeing the slaves would mean for America.
When his turn to vote arrives he is visibly conflicted and whispers to himself
“My vote ties us” perhaps in reference to the weight of the decision he was
making. Once he votes yes the senate erupts in a mix of applause and jeers as
others sit in disbelief in Yeaman’s decision, it is clear from this point that
the vote will be won.
The refusal of return
is met with the south and Lincoln being unable to come to terms and end the war
under over the south's objections to the new amendment and Lincoln’s refusal to
allow any southern states to keep oppressing their people causing one of the
most bloody wars in history to continue raging on, Lincoln is visibly
distressed by these events.
Two months after the amendment has passed the war inevitably
ends and Lincoln becomes master of two
worlds by being president over the whole of America as Jefferson Davis
surrenders and retreats on a white horse. Lincoln is now master of the slave
south and the free north and free himself to reform the nation. Though it has
taken its toll on him, Grant, Lincolns General says to him “It has only been a
year since we last met but to the eye you appear 10 years older”.
Magic flight
translates well as the scene were Mary and Lincoln ride in a carriage after the
war is over and the reconstruction has begun, dreaming of better times and
future holidays now that they don’t have to worry about war anymore. Lincoln
holds her hand and begs Mary “You must try to be happier (…) we’ve been
miserable for so long” the weight of the struggle seems visibility lifted on
Lincolns face.
Lincolns crossing the
return threshold occurs when he walks from the cabinet to the place of his
assassination, any audience that know the history of Lincoln knows what is
coming and combined with the body language and his last words for the whole
film: “I guess it’s time to go, though I’d rather stay” while smiling and
leaving his friends for the last time and under the respectful gaze of his
assistant.
The abolishment of slavery and the end civil war gives the
people of America the freedom to life,
which is the very thing Lincoln aimed to achieve during his hero’s journey and
runs through the entire film as the main plot line.
Altogether, as Lincoln is a historic figure it was not
certain the Hero’s journey would apply to his path very well, but even though
some points might be up for discussion as they can be interpreted differently,
Lincoln has a clear arc of separation,
where the audience gets thrown into the scenario of civil war and slavery in
the south, which leads to initiation
in which the votes for the senate to pass the amendment need to be found and
finally the return, in which the
amendment is passed, slavery abolished and the civil war ended. It was a very
interesting film to watch and to review and my personal score would be 5 (out
of 5) stars as one can truly feel for Lincolns struggle with his morals and his
own family, the set designs and acting are also truly outstanding.
Illustrations:
Figure 1: Steven
Spielberg (2012) Lincoln Poster [Still
of Lincoln] available from: http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wnpr/files/201501/Lincoln-movie_wallpaper.jpg
(accessed: 28/9/2015)
Figure 2: Steven
Spielberg (2012) The Goddess [Still
of Lincoln] available from: http://www.theshiznit.co.uk/media/2012/September/lincoln/lincoln-20.jpg
(accessed: 28/9/2015)
Figure 3: Steven
Spielberg (2012) The day of the vote [Still
of Lincoln] available from: http://www.candidmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/L-0033172.jpg
(accessed: 28/9/2015)
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