President Lincoln's Love Of War: An Escape From The War

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An Escape from the War At the time of the Civil War, theatre found itself at an interesting threshold in American society. While pieces of literary drama were renowned for their brilliance and considered to be a high art form, theatre performance was associate with the obscene and immoral. However, for many, theatre was a great way to escape the horrors facing our nation. Many classic comedies, especially Shakespeare were being performed across the nation. While some modern plays attempted to address the issues facing our nation, such as race relations and women’s rights, most theatres primarily produced traditional works known to bring in a crowd and provide an evening away from the troubles of the War.

Lincoln’s Love of Theatre President Lincoln was a huge fan of the theatre. While he often made his intentions to attend productions around Washington DC public knowledge, such as the night of his assassination, he was also known to seek out a private theatre experience. During trying times, Lincoln would often steal away to the theatre, where he would
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So, it was no surprise when he showed up in the afternoon to speak with Ned Spangler, the stagehand who would later be convicted in the conspiracy. It also didn’t surprise anyone when he showed up at the performance on the night April 14, 1865. Plenty of people saw him walking along the family circle in the back of the balcony, but thought nothing of it. When gave his card to the President’s messenger asking for an audience, his celebrity status granted him this access without suspicion. Even when he jumped onto the stage after having shot the President of the United States, the audience, cast, and crew alike initially had a hard time connecting that this man they all knew could have done something so