Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Abe Lincoln in Illinois Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The play opens in the cabin of Mentor Graham near New Salem, Illinois. It is late at night and one oil lamp hangs over a table on which are stacked books and papers. Mentor is talking to a young Abe Lincoln who is thin and dressed in the clothes of a backwoodsman. Mentor is coaching young Abe in the English language and they are currently working on the moods of language. Abe give examples of each one: Indicative, Imperative, Potential, Subjunctive, and Infinitive.

When he finishes, Mentor gives him a newspaper and asks him to read the speech printed in there that was delivered by Daniel Webster before the U.S. Senate. Mentor leans back to listen as Abe reads out loud and he periodically corrects his pronunciation of some words. The speech addresses the debate over the right of any state to secede from the Union and his response to South Carolina's position of states rights. Webster's speech counters that if there is no union, there would be precious little freedom left.

The conversation drifts to the troubles of Abe's store. Abe feels responsible and feels that he fails at any steady job he's ever had. Mentor tells him that there are men throughout the town who see potential in him and are willing to help him succeed. However, Abe thinks he just has bad luck. Mentor suggests that he move away from New Salem because there will never be any real opportunity here.

Abe has thought of moving; his family has moved many times during his young life, never quite sure what they are looking for and consequently never finding it. Mentor urges him again to go, and if he's afraid of failing there are two professions available to people who fail at everything else - school teaching and politics. Abe knows that politics would mean going to the city and he doesn't like cities. It is the people there who scare him; as if they want to kill him and he thinks about death a lot. Abe buried his mother when he was very small and he is so sensitive that he cannot even kill a deer.

Mentor thinks he is a study in contrasts; so friendly, yet misanthropic. Abe likes people one by one, but groups and crowds scare him. It is late and Abe gets up to leave but Mentor gives him a magazine containing a poem entitled "On Death." Abe likes it very much and is reading it again to himself as he leaves.