Gettysburg Address 19 November 1863, Essay Example

In both Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address as well as Pericles’ Funeral Oration, there is a them of history written. This theme relates to how history remembers events of that day (as Lincoln said, they may not remember what was said, but they will remember what was done; and as Pericles said, history shall provide a “rigorous analysis”). This focus on history proves to be one of the focuses of the speeches, perhaps, because the speakers hoped that the importance of the events would transcend history and be relevant to the future.

Lincoln and Pericles both sought equality. This comes through in Lincoln’s speech because he doesn’t differentiate between the North and the South but rather uses the all-encompassing term “men” because the battle was a devastating event for the entire nation, and this devastation, Lincoln felt, didn’t deserve to be dichotomized. Pericles also talks about a democracy (which is what Lincoln was trying to do).

Lincoln spoke about what the dead were trying to accomplish; which was unity in the nation. Pericles also talks about unity, and freedom. Both orators prized freedom above most other things. Pericles said that one shouldn’t be jealous of their neighbor or show hatred against him; this line is relevant to the Civil War as it wasn’t just about neighbors but about brothers being pitted against one another. In this vein, both orators spoke toward a brotherhood, unity, and freedom.

Works Cited

Pericles’ Funeral Oration Abraham Lincoln’ “Gettysburg Address 19 November 1863”