Honor's Voice, A Tale of Self-Identity and Ethical Choices Part 5

In the 5th section of Douglas Wilson's Honor's Voice, Lincoln's move from New Salem to Springfield is discussed. After Lincoln had helped make Springfield the capital of Illinois, he had established himself as a leader in the Illinois legislature. Even though he had moved up the ranks, he decided to take up a career in law, to be "the law partner of a rising political star" (Wilson 261). Lincoln, however, could not pursue his career in law in the city of New Salem as it didn't provide him the opportunity to do so. He would have to move to Springfield. Moving from New Salem to Springfield would not be easy for Lincoln just as moving from a house that one has been living at for years to a new location would presumably be difficult. What made the move even more difficult is the fact that Lincoln had built up a strong reputation in New Salem, one that would have to be re-built if he moved to Springfield. Wilson attests to this, "He established a viable niche for himself at New Salem, where he was not only accepted but regarded as something of a remarkable young man. But there was no future for a lawyer there" (Wilson 249). Dealing with the challenge of moving to New Salem would be somewhat of a test for him.

Upon Lincoln's arrival to Springfield, he was a man who was by no means one of the upper-class. Lincoln was born into a farming family and lived in the same conditions of those around him, no better, no worse. To Lincoln, though, this didn't matter: "Poverty was not the issue, for Lincoln seems to have been quite content to live a simple life of very few materials wants and possessions. The issue was debt" (Wilson 265). Lincoln had incurred sums of debt as a result of investing in a horse and a compass as well as a failed storekeeping venture. Just as if that wasn't enough, Lincoln had several other problems. Wilson writes, "If Lincoln's first year in Springfield found him having to cope with apprehension about his prospects as a lawyer, feelings of social ineptitude and a lack of acceptance, there was at least one more thing that must have given him serious concern: his recurring bouts of depression" (Wilson 283). The doubt of his being successful should be expected and his want for being accepted into the society is by no means abnormal. On the flip side, Lincoln's depression, which is seemingly abnormal to those who regard Lincoln as great, was quite normal as he had lived with the blues before he came to Springfield. What was different about the blues he had in New Salem was the fact that he didn't show it. In Springfield, it seemed to consume him and it showed greatly. One of Lincoln's associates, Herndon, described Lincoln as "a sad-looking man; his melancholy dripped from him as he walked" (Wilson). Lincoln's move was met with adversity, but he would pull through.

Honor's Voice, A Tale of Self-Identity and Ethical Choices Part 4

In the third section of Douglas Wilson's Honor’s Voice, Lincoln's relationships with women are discussed. From the young age of seven until he was an adult, he was "unattracted" to girls. His grandmother is quoted as saying that Lincoln "was not very fond of girls..." (Wilson 110). Although others identified Lincoln as being a young man without a particular liking towards women, Lincoln didn't let it phase him. In fact, the main reason Lincoln lacked a strong liking for women was because with them, he couldn't display his social talents. Wilson writes about Lincoln saying, "He had...the inclination and ability to take center stage in social situations...but girls did not compete with boys in athletic contests, and most of his stories would probably not have been considered suitable for a mixed audience" (Wilson 114). By no means was it that Lincoln plainly disliked them or that was afraid of girls, he just liked the spotlight more.

Lincoln did, however, fall in love with a women by the name of Ann Rutledge. The two became lovers, she a tavernkeepers daughter and he a boarder. While Ms. Rutledge was in love with Lincoln, she was publicly engaged to a man named John McNeil. A neighbor who lived near the Rutledge farm recalled Lincoln's presence at the farm saying, "Mr. L. came over to see me & them every day or two. I did not know of any engagement or tender passages between Mr L & Miss R at the time" (129). The fact that Ann was already engaged to Mr. McNeil most likely allowed the neighbor to not suspect anything. Once she Ann died in 1834 though, the neighbor was very aware of the fact that there had been something between Lincoln and Miss Rutledge. According to Wilson, "his extraordinary emotions...accurately reflect what local residents came to believe and to remember about the aftermath of Ann's death, some of whom used words like 'crazy' and 'insanity' to describe Lincoln's condition" (Wilson 132). Lincoln took her death quite seriously, but he would move on. He would always find himself in the middle of social gatherings, but his love to do that never took him away from establishing deep relationships with others, even women.

Honor's Voice, A Tale of Self-Identity and Ethical Choices Part 3

In the fourth section of Honor's Voice, Wilson writes about Abraham Lincoln's journey into politics. Surprisingly, his physical build and athletic ability greatly helped him: "He could lift weights that were beyond the capacity of others; he could throw heavy objects, such as cannonballs, farther than his fellows...These were feats that were much admired by the men who constituted the electorate in Sangamon Country" (Wilson 141). Although these things probably helped him, he couldn't have become a leader without intellect, something he did not lack. Lincoln was able to ascend into a position in the state legislature. Before Lincoln had been elected to represent Sangamon County in the state legislature, he had begun to align himself with views contrary to those held by people living in the community. Wilson alludes to this: "Lincoln's back-country neighbors...were almost entirely Jackson men, but the young Lincoln, reportedly following Jones' example, resisted. He began to line up with the anti-Jackson forces and soon pronounced himself a follower of Henry Clay" (Wilson 150). Even though Lincoln didn't hold the same views as the community he lived in, he was still elected which means his community had some kind of faith in him.

Once he had served through one session, he became a leader in the legislature; he was recognized as the leader of the Whigs in the House. In his second session, he was two-faced in a way. On one side, he has been accused of logrolling which is essentially doing a favor for someone in exchange for another favor. In Lincoln's case, he was looking to make sure Springfield would be deemed capital of Illinois: "...Lincoln may have voted for and helped to put over patently bad or otherwise inadvisable measures, purely for the sake of securing the state capital for Springfield" (Wilson 163). Even if Lincoln went on to do great things, what he could have possibly done here is inadmissible. The measures Wilson talks about, but does not elaborate on, could have hurt individuals in the community they were passed for. There is nothing remotely right about what Lincoln did. On the other side of Lincoln's two faces, for the first time we see his anti-slavery views. Lincoln is seen with a colleague protesting on the house floor. The protest is described as "two lonely voices crying out in the wilderness against the evils of slavery" (Wilson 175). With Wilson's description, it is clear that although most people in Illinois were in agreement of slavery's evils, they were not going to stand up against it. Lincoln personally stood up against when others wouldn't.

Traitor or Whistle Blower?

In the film "On the Waterfront" the idea of being a traitor or a whistle blower is one of the foremost issues. In the film there are those at the head of the mob, those working for the mob and those looking to break the mob. Those looking to break the mob, namely the court and the priest, would generally refer to an individual as an informant on criminal activity. With the information given by informants, the court would have enough evidence to indict Johnny Friendly and thus end the practices of the mob. The priest would never look at someone as a stool pigeon and in this case, being an informant would be the right thing to do. On the other hand, figures of the mob like Johnny Friendly would refer to an individual as a stool pigeon. If one, as leader, were to see activity threatning to one's practice, the expected response would be negative. Those working under the mob outwardly show the same opinion as the leaders, but inwardly believe what is 'right.'

The issue of determining whether or not someone is being a tattle tale versus speaking out against improper behavior is sometimes difficult to determine. In my opinion, an individual is a tattle tale if they tattle for issues of little significance, if they tattle selfishly, or if they tattle to blatantly harm someone. One should speak out against improper behavior if what they define as improper behavior is harmful to someone or something. Everyone has their beliefs and anyone can define something as improper behavior, but speaking out against improper behavior can only be done by those who are strong. With that strength, one can diminish improper behavior

Society vs. Family

In the play "All My Sons," several characters act depending on whether it benefits their family or society. This is clearly seen in both Joe Keller and his son, Chris Keller. While Joe acts based on the needs of his family, Chris believes the needs of society should come first. In the midst of an emotional discussion between Kate and Joe, Kate argues that Joe had no excuse for not owning up to creating cracked cylinder heads. When Kate tells Joe that Chris believed there was something bigger than family, Joe responds, "Nothing is bigger...There's nothing he could do that I wouldn't forgive, because he's my son, because I'm his father and he's my son" (Miller 77). Its obvious that Joe Keller believed family was more important than society. He justifies the crime which caused the death of many men with the fact that he did it for his son; he did it so Chris would have a future. On the other hand, when Chris learns of what his father did, he is appalled, showing he believes the needs of society prevail over the needs of the family: "Is that as far as your mind can see, the business?...What the hell do you mean, you did it for me? Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world? What the hell are you? You're not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you?" (Miller 70). Chris' opinion is very strong as he implies that if you act against the needs of society (in an extreme case), you're worse than an animal. He is disgusted at the fact that his father says he acted in his son's interest. After all, Chris is only one person in the entire society which is much more important.

The needs of the society should generally be put first, although there are occasions in which the needs of family must be put first. In a society that can generate happiness and one that has not forced an individual to be a part of it, individuals should always address the needs of the society before the needs of family. It is that society that provides the individual everything he or she has, besides giving life. The society sustains an individual's life much more so than a family can do; a family can provide happiness and joy, yes, but a family cannot keep someone alive without the tools the society has provided. If a society provides for the individual, the individual ought to provide for the society. If a society's values were 'wrong,' and if those values could cause harm to one's family, then the needs of the family would be more important than the needs of the society. But this would be rare as a society wouldn't want a value-set that would be harmful to the people it consists of. Although 'wrong' values may be the most harmful thing of all, it is not harmful in the sense that people would lack well being, something more important than values.

Honor's Voice, A Tale of Self-Identity and Ethical Decisions Part 2

In the second section of Honor's Voice, Wilson writes about Lincoln at the age of Twenty-Two as he arrives in New Salem, Illinois only a boat's ride away from his hometown of Springfield. At first glance, Wilson uses Lincoln's own words to describe Lincoln's appearance: "He was, he said later, 'a strange, friendless, uneducated, penniless boy, working on a flat boat - at then dollars per month'"(Wilson 56) Lincoln had come to the town to work, returning home after several months had passed. When he came back again for work, "his unrolled pants...were several inches too short. And even on the frontier, people judged by appearances, and the impression made by the young Abraham Lincoln was hardly favorable" (Wilson 64).

Yes, this was Lincoln's appearance, but to use the old expression, 'don't judge a book by its cover' wouldn't be inappropriate in Lincoln's case; "In his dress and physical appearance he was every inch a bumpkin, a yokel, a slightly eccentric example of a recognizable type" (Wilson 65). Through Lincoln, we see this classical example. One's appearance doesn't always tell you what one will be like in character. In fact, one's appearance may be completely misleading if either by purpose, like Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, or if by nature, like in Abraham Lincoln's case. It was what Lincoln experienced the first time in New Salem that led him on a course of self-education. He had no formal education so he resorted to teaching himself through poetry, history, and philosophy. Through philosophy and skeptic religious studies "he pursued a course of intellectual inquiry that challenged some of the most deeply held beliefs of his time and place" (Wilson 85). Choosing what he wished to study, Lincoln became educated in reason which led him to adopt ideas which were "against the grain" (Wilson 85). These ideas, and therefore his education, led him to make the ethical decisions of his presidency.

Honor's Voice, A Tale of Self-Identity and Ethical Decisions Part 1

Honor's voice, written by Douglas L. Wilson, is an auto-biography about Abraham Lincoln and the transformation he went through from an early age. Many people, when they think of Abraham Lincoln, think about the success of his presidency, his brown beard, or his tall top hat, but what is more interesting is the path Lincoln traveled in becoming a great president. Wilson stresses the importance of Lincoln's early life and the struggles he went through. He says, "Lincoln's early life and the circumstances that brought about his emergence as a man of consequence constitute an important part of the Lincoln story and, it can be argued, are in need of particular attention" (Wilson 4). For much of the lengthy introduction, Wilson makes this clear. From his repeating this, it becomes apparant to us that even if a person has achieved prestige or high-standing, there being in that position is not important. What is important is the path one takes to achieve that standing. What is important is what one endures on the road to bettering oneself. In Lincoln's case, his path wasn't as easy as it would seem: "He struggled with doubts and fears who he was and what he could become" (Wilson 14).


The first glimpse we get of Lincoln as a boy shows us how he may struggled with himself. When he was wrestling with a boy named Jack Armstrong, he finally decided to end the fight saying, "Jack let's quit. I can't throw you - you can't throw me" (Wilson 47). This does not directly tell us that Lincoln struggled at all, but as the author later explains, we see the fights significance. This was the first time in his life where he had dealt with a difficult situation. In the past, he had been unable to do so. According to Wilson, "Lincoln had even more difficulties to surmount then this...periods of deep depression...and moments of suicidal depression" (Wilson 51). From this, as I have not even begun to get into the meat of the story, I assume that Lincoln went through some rough patches. He did come out of, though. No matter how difficult something is, it is important to overcome those difficulties.