Steven Spielberg about the Life of Lincoln - Movie Review Example

s the assignment was due Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln History is filled with key moments where nation’s leaders played a strong catalytic role for the actualization of significant issues. As these issues would bring about positive and beneficial changes to sections of people, those leaders would push their limits and work in utmost urgency to actualize those issues through official laws or amendments. One of the greatest American presidents, Abraham Lincoln is one such leader who worked with strong determination to have the Thirteenth Amendment passed by the United States’ House of Representatives with the intention to liberate the African-American slaves from white masters and thereby abolish slavery once for all. Lincoln, a historical drama movie, primarily focuses on these efforts of Lincoln. Directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Tony Kushner, it features the final four months of Lincolns life, as he puts in his best efforts to have the Thirteenth Amendment passed by the House of Representatives. President Lincoln’s sense of urgency to pass the Thirteenth Amendment was justified and fitted to the times because with the Civil War about to end in 1865, there were chances of discarding the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation with Supreme Court’s aid, and importantly Lincoln wanted to actualize equality without any form racial discrimination. The life of Abraham Lincoln overlapped with many dramatic political and societal transformations which were shaping the United States’ society and its citizens’ lives. One of the key political and social issues is the system of slavery, with Lincoln playing the prominent role in taking that transformation to the logical and positive end, albeit with some minor apprehensions. All through his life, Lincoln had politically as well as ethically detested slavery throughout his life. In one of his most famous statements, he strongly highlighted this fact that too in the midst of slavery advocates in the White House: “I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel” (Nagler 2). When one focuses on the movie, there are number of reasons which further justified Lincoln’s urgency to pass the amendment quickly. First, he viewed Thirteenth Amendment as the best alternative or even as an extension to the Emancipation Proclamation when it comes to freeing the slaves and even if the Proclamation is struck down by the Supreme Court. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, with the intention to change the status of slaves who are escaping from the control of the Confederate government to “free” thereby designating around 3 million slaves as free individuals. I issued the proclamation on purpose to aid you in saving the Union. “After his controversial decision to sign the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, grateful Americans, black and white, honored him with the title the Great Emancipator” (White 4). However, when the war is about to conclude, he had the opinion that his Emancipation Proclamation was just a military measure which might not fare well during the imminent peacetime or in peacetime courts. That is, he was of the opinion that any slave who was freed under this proclamation was identified as a property, which was seized during war, and so the courts could also toe the same line. “The Constitution explicitly protected property, and slaveholders regarded their slaves as just that” (Nagler 2). So, in a way the Emancipation Proclamation acknowledged the property status of the freed slaves instead of ending slavery thereby necessitating better and quicker amendment in the form of the Thirteenth Amendment. This perspective was pointed by Lincoln in the scene where he converses with John Usher, Secretary of the Interior, and James Speed, United States Attorney General. “That might recommend to suspicion that I agree with the rebs that their slaves are property in the first place. Of course I dont, never have, Im glad to see any man free” (Spielberg and Kushner). Lincoln further opines that since the rebels are only fighting inside the Southern states and not the states themselves, the already formulated or followed state laws, particularly the ones in favor of slavery, could continue to have effects even after the war ends. So, the Emancipation Proclamation and other anti-slavery policies of the Federal government could be nullified in those states. “The laws of which states remain in force. That means, that since its states laws that determine whether Negroes can be sold as slaves, as property - the Federal government doesnt have a say in that, least not yet” (Spielberg and Kushner). This issue again instilled in Lincoln the quick necessity of Thirteenth Amendment thereby forcing him to exhibit urgency in passing the amendment. In addition, Lincoln viewed the Emancipation Proclamation not as an optimal tool to completely liberate slaves. “Anyone who actually reads the Emancipation Proclamation knows it was more a military document than a clarion call for justice” (Nagler 20). Apart from these reasons, Lincoln had strong concerns that even this supposed temporary or weak Proclamation could be discarded by the Supreme Court thereby removing the last measure against slavery. That is, immediately after the end of the War, Lincoln feared that courts including the Supreme Court could come up with unexpected interpretations of the Proclamation. “Lincoln believed that the validity of Emancipation Proclamation and other Civil War acts could easily come under the review of the Supreme Court” (White 650). So, with the legal grounds for the Proclamation being shaky, Lincoln had apprehensions that slaves who have become free individuals could again be suppressed through slavery. As this worst-case scenario could happen immediately at the end of the War, Lincoln is right in exhibiting urgency to pass the Amendment. In that direction, Lincoln utters these lines: “Two years ago I proclaimed these people emancipated... But lets say the courts decide I had no authority to do it. They might well decide that. Say theres no amendment abolishing slavery…Might those people I freed be ordered back into slavery? Thats why Id like to get the Thirteenth Amendment through the House” (Spielberg and Kushner). Apart from the above-discussed political and social scenarios, Lincoln’s sense of urgency emerged because of his personal intention to actualize equality without any discrimination on the basis of race or color. During the Civil War, he was outspoken against slavery. In a way, “he viewed the abolition of slavery, not as means of warfare anymore, but as an integral war aim” (Nagler 15). He wanted complete liberation of the African Americans, without anyone being suppressed so they could live a free life at their own will. Lincoln’s wish for equality is featured in a key scene involving Lincoln himself and two young men in an otherwise vacant telegraph cipher office. This scene is crucial because Lincoln has to take a crucial decision regarding whether to consider a peace proposal coming from a Confederate delegation to end the gruesome War or go ahead with his original plan to pass the Thirteenth Amendment and thereby ending slavery and liberating many. He seems to toe with the later by quoting prominent Mathematician Euclid’s words, which states: “Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to each other”. The President continues, “We begin with equality…That’s fairness . . . that’s justice” (Spielberg and Kushner). Considering the importance and depth of the scene, the background lighting is dark with focus lighting on the three actors, and the camera movements by Janusz Kaminski is steady and slow (Scott). This setting let the viewers reflect mainly on the three characters. So, it is evident that Lincoln’s wish to create a equal society by liberating the African Americans before the impeding conclusion of the War is one the basic and main reasons which pushes him to pass the Thirteenth Amendment urgently. Although, Lincoln is optimally determined for the immediate passing of the Amendment, conversations with Mrs. Keckley provide slightly contrasting perspectives. In this scene, Mrs. Keckley understanding Lincoln’s efforts regarding the Thirteen Amendment thank him and assure him that it will be approved. However, when Lincoln asks her what would be the status of the African Americans after the passing of the Amendment, she expresses skepticism. She fears that even after the Amendment, white people might not readily welcome African Americans and instead could try to suppress them. She states: “White people dont want us here” (Spielberg and Kushner). This is line with the perspectives pointed out by W.E.B Du Bois in his work Of Our Spiritual Strivings. Although, Du Bois addresses the condition of African Americans in the decade following the Civil War and the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment, he shows how African American were continued to be dominated and discriminated. Du Bois state how African Americans are always viewed as a “problem” (DuBois 11). Furthermore, he states that they are with “double consciousness” and in that direction they have to always view themselves through the eyes of others, particularly the white Americans (DuBois 12). This perspective is in line with how Mrs. Keckley views herself according to whether she would be liked or wanted by the white people, instead of focusing on her self-worth. Despite setbacks, Lincoln optimized his efforts to pass the Amendment. He was not often involved in the “day-to-day legislative processes of the Congress in the first four years as President”, but he turned his full attention to pass the Thirteenth Amendment (White 654). So, eventually, the Amendment was passed on January 31, 1865, with Lincoln stating: “This amendment is a Kings Cure for all the evils” (White 654). From the above analysis, it is possible to state that President Lincoln’s sense of urgency to pass the Thirteenth Amendment was justified and fitted to the times. As Lincoln was skeptical about Emaciation Proclamation, its effectiveness in peace time, its relevancy in southern states, its effectiveness as a liberating tool, and importantly the threat of its discarding by the Supreme Court, Lincoln exhibited urgency to pass the amendment. In addition, with Lincoln expressing views against slavery all through his life and wanted to end to actualize a equitable society without any discrimination against the African-Americans, he viewed passing of the Thirteen Amendment was justified and fitted to the times. Works Cited Du Bois, W. E. B. “Of Our Spiritual Strivings.” In The Souls of Black Folk. Arc Manor LLC, 2008. Nagler, Jorg. “Abraham Lincoln’s Attitudes on Slavery and Race.” American Studies Journal. 53 (2009), 1-22. Scott, A. O. “A President Engaged in a Great Civil War.” New York Times, 8 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 April 2015. Spielberg, Steven, dir and Kushner, Tony, writer. Lincoln. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2012. Film White, Ronald C. A. Lincoln: A Biography. New York: Random House, 2009. Read More