A Two-Minute Masterpiece: The Gettysburg Address Explained

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 274 - A Two-Minute Masterpiece: The Gettysburg Address Explained

This episode delves briefly into Edward Everett's two hour speech at Gettysburg prior to President Lincoln's two minute address, and breaks down Lincoln's words and concepts in his address.

Transcript

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 274 - A Two-Minute Masterpiece: The Gettysburg Address Explained

President Abraham Lincoln was not the head speaker at the dedication of the Battlefield at Gettysburg. That honor went to Edward Everett, one of the leading educators and orators in the United States.

He actually spoke for over two hours - and to give you an idea of his speaking style - what follows are the final two paragraphs of his speech.

The hour is coming and now is, when the power of the leaders of the Rebellion to delude and inflame must cease. There is no bitterness on the part of the masses. The people of the South are not going to wage an eternal war for the wretched pretexts by which this rebellion is sought to be justified. The bonds that unite us as one People,–a substantial community of origin, language, belief, and law (the four great ties that hold the societies of men together); common national and political interests; a common history; a common pride in a glorious ancestry; a common interest in this great heritage of blessings; the very geographical features of the country; the mighty rivers that cross the lines of climate, and thus facilitate the interchange of natural and industrial products, while the wonder-working arm of the engineer has levelled the mountain-walls which separate the East and West, compelling your own Alleghanies, my Maryland and Pennsylvania friends, to open wide their everlasting doors to the chariot-wheels of traffic and travel,–these bonds of union are of perennial force and energy, while the causes of alienation are imaginary, factitious, and transient. The heart of the People, North and South, is for the Union. Indications, too plain to be mistaken, announce the fact, both in the East and the West of the States in rebellion. In North Carolina and Arkansas the fatal charm at length is broken. At Raleigh and Little Rock the dips of honest and brave men are unsealed, and an independent press is unlimbering its artillery. When its rifled cannon shall begin to roar, the hosts of treasonable sophistry–the mad delusions of the day–will fly like the Rebel army through the passes of yonder mountain. The weary masses of the people are yearning to see the dear old flag again floating upon their capitols, and they sigh for the return of the peace, prosperity, and happiness which they enjoyed under a government whose power was felt only in its blessings.

And now, friends, fellow-citizens of Gettysburg and Pennsylvania, and you from remoter States, let me again, as we part, invoke your benediction on these honored graves. You feel, though the occasion is mournful, that it is good to be here. You feel that it was greatly auspicious for the cause of the country, that the men of the East and the men of the West, the men of nineteen sister States, stood side by side, on the perilous ridges of the battle. You now feel it a new bond of union, that they shall lie side by side, till a clarion, louder than that which marshalled them to the combat, shall awake their slumbers. God bless the Union;–it is dearer to us for the blood of brave men which has been shed in its defence. The spots on which they stood and fell; these pleasant heights; the fertile plain beneath them; the thriving village whose streets so lately rang with the strange din of war; the fields beyond the ridge, where the noble Reynolds held the advancing foe at bay, and, while he gave up his own life, assured by his forethought and self-sacrifice the triumph of the two succeeding days; the little streams which wind through the hills, on whose banks in after-times the wondering ploughman will turn up, with the rude weapons of savage warfare, the fearful missiles of modern artillery; Seminary Ridge, the Peach-Orchard, Cemetery, Culp, and Wolf Hill, Round Top, Little Round Top, humble names, henceforward dear and famous,–no lapse of time, no distance of space, shall cause you to be forgotten. “The whole earth,” said Pericles, as he stood over the remains of his fellow-citizens, who had fallen in the first year of the Peloponnesian War,–“the whole earth is the sepulchre of illustrious men.” All time, he might have added, is the millennium of their glory. Surely I would do no injustice to the other noble achievements of the war, which have reflected such honor on both arms of the service, and have entitled the armies and the navy of the United States, their officers and men, to the warmest thanks and the richest rewards which a grateful people can pay. But they, I am sure, will join us in saying, as we bid farewell to the dust of these martyr-heroes, that wheresoever throughout the civilized world the accounts of this great warfare are read, and down to the latest period of recorded time, in the glorious annals of our common country there will be no brighter page than that which relates THE BATTLES OF GETTYSBURG.

Actually, the first part of Everett’s speech contained quite a few Greek and Roman classical references - reflecting education that was part of his personal speaking style and scholarly background. Everett was a professor of Greek literature at Harvard and had extensively studied classical languages and literature in Europe. Quoting ancient Greek writers was likely a natural extension of his academic expertise.

Now, referencing classical sources was certainly popular and respected at the time. Referencing classical works was likely seen as a mark of erudition and sophistication. By invoking ancient Greek writers, Everett could connect contemporary events to classical ideals and historical precedents, lending weight to his arguments.  And as someone who championed higher standards of scholarship in American education (he was president of Harvard University), Everett likely saw referencing Greek writers as a way to demonstrate and promote classical learning. While this style of speaking  was certainly well-received in Everett's time, today his speaking might be criticized by modern commentators as overly grandiose. the search results also indicate that it has been criticized by more recent commentators as overly grandiose - and I have barely touched his many classical references.

Remember - Edward Everett spoke in this vein for over two hours - and
and thanks for staying with me.

Then President Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address - words that lasted just two minutes - and have been said to be among the greatest American speeches ever given.

Now President Abraham Lincoln started to write his speech the day before his arrival in Gettysburg. He then toured the site of the battlefield and was moved to write additional entries further emphasizing the solemn dedication of the cemetery to the honored dead.  It is said that the impact of his words had the effect of emphasizing the Union cause of the Civil War and emphasizing the previous struggle of citizens who fought for liberty, equality and freedom in the American Revolution and the endurance of these ideals.

Now here isfor the entire Gettysburg Address in its original beautiful, flowing language as delivered by President Abraham Lincoln - all 2 minutes of it.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Edward Everett wrote a note to Abraham Lincoln the day after their speeches at Gettysburg, praising Lincoln's brief remarks. Specifically, Everett said: "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
This comment highlights the stark contrast between the length of their two speeches. Everett spoke for about two hours, delivering a 13,607-word oration that was typical of formal 19th century oratory. In contrast, Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address was extremely brief, lasting only a few minutes.

Everett, who was the featured speaker at the event, recognized that Lincoln had managed to capture the essence and significance of the occasion far more concisely and powerfully than he had in his lengthy speech. His humble acknowledgment of Lincoln's oratorical achievement demonstrates Everett's graciousness and insight in recognizing the impact of Lincoln's brief but profound remarks, despite the vast difference in the length and style of their respective addresses.

Many historians have said that The Gettysburg Address text is more of like a piece of poetic prose than a political speech. Prose poetry combines the characteristics of poetry, conveying ideas and emotional experiences, but lacks words that rhyme or a specific rhythm. Prose creates heightened imagery and emotional effect. The use of imagery heightens the impact of the words to the text. President Lincoln makes use of Allusions in the words of the Gettysburg Address text. Because allusions make reference to something other than what is directly being said, it is easy to miss an allusion, or fail to understand an allusion if you do not know the underlying story or reference point. This is why so many people ask "What is the Meaning of the Gettysburg Address Text?"

Now if you bear with me - I want to dive into the Gettysburg - to examine this masterpiece.

Well, the easiest way to understand the allusions in and the meaning of the Gettysburg Address Text is to go through the speech line by line - you will be amazed at the extent of the meaning behind words and understand why the words and text in the speech known as the Gettysburg Address is recognized as an extraordinary piece of prose poetry.

First - Four score and seven years ago

Well, The word 'score' means 20. So Four score and seven totals 87 years. The Gettysburg Address was delivered in 1863.  87 years before this date was 1776 - the birth of America as a nation with the Declaration of Independence. President Lincoln was referring to the past and all that America stood for. This one line also has a religious tone. Psalm 90:10 in the Bible says "The days of our years are threescore years and ten". And this reminds people of how long a person could expect to live their life.

our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation,

This is a reference to the Founding Fathers and their work to form a Constitution for the new nation of the United States

● conceived in Liberty, and

Lincoln is reminding people that the reason the nation was created was to gain liberty  and on January 1, 1863 the President had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the first step towards freeing slaves.

dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

This is another reference to slavery and the equality of men

● Now we are engaged in a great civil war,
● testing whether that nation, or any nation,
so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

● ● With these words President Lincoln is moving from the past to the present. And he talks about the longevity of a nation fighting a Civil War.

We are met on a great battlefield of that war.

● The great battlefield is the Battle of Gettysburg where the losses totaled 51,000. But it was only one battle of the war

● We have come to dedicate a portion of that field,

● The reason for the ceremony
● as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives
● that the nation might live.

● It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Lincoln is talking about the sacrifice of the lives of the men for the benefit of and to meet the aspirations of the nation and that the dedication ceremony was the honorable appropriate action of the time.

● But, in a larger sense,
● we can not dedicate
● we can not consecrate
● we can not hallow this ground.

● The President is saying that no actions of the living...
● The brave men, living and dead,
● who struggled here, have consecrated it,
● far above our poor power to add or detract.

● Can in anyway equal the sacrifice of the dead
● The world will little note,
● nor long remember what we say here,
● but it can never forget what they did here.

The President is using these words to move from the present to the future. That the words spoken at the ceremony may not be remembered in the future but the actions of the dead would not be forgotten

● It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here
● to the unfinished work which they who fought here
● have thus far so nobly advanced.
● It is rather for us to be here dedicated
● to the great task remaining before us

President Lincoln is reminding people that although the ceremony was dedicated to those fallen on one battlefield and their achievements in victory that the Civil War was continuing and there was more to be done

● that from these honored dead we take
● increased devotion to that cause for which
● they gave the last full measure of devotion
● that we here highly resolve
● that these dead shall not have died in vain

● ● The gallant dead have fought for the cause, and that those left behind were responsible for ensuring that their sacrifice should not be be in vain by fighting even harder for the cause
● that this nation, under God
● shall have a new birth of freedom
● and that government of the people, by the people, for the people,
● shall not perish from the earth.

● The President ends by talking of God, and a new type of freedom for the people of the United States by the will of those people and those they have elected to govern the country. The words are also reminiscent of the start of the Constitution "We the People…"

In conclusion, I would like to look deeper into those final lines - some of the most famous and impactful words in American political rhetoric.

"that this nation, under God"

This phrase affirms the idea of divine providence in American destiny, while also uniting the nation under a common spiritual ideal during a time of deep division.

"shall have a new birth of freedom”

Lincoln is calling for a renewal and reinvigoration of American ideals of liberty and equality in the wake of the Civil War. He envisions the conflict as an opportunity for the nation to recommit itself to its founding principles.
"and that government of the people, by the people, for the people,”

This is perhaps the most famous line, succinctly defining Lincoln's view of democracy. It emphasizes popular sovereignty - the idea that legitimate political authority stems from the will of the people and not any king or autocrat.  The repetition of "people" underscores their central importance in the American system of government.

"shall not perish from the earth”

This powerful conclusion frames the Civil War as a test of whether American democracy can survive. Lincoln is asserting that the sacrifices made in the war must ensure the long-term survival of democratic governance, not just in America but as an example for the world.

Join Celebrate Poe for episode 275: A Nation Divided: Lincoln's Call for Reconciliation

Sources include: Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and perplexity.ai.

And don’t forget to vote to ensure that long-term survival of democratic governance, not just in America but as an example for the world.

Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.