It's pretty clear that Lincoln doesn't like the divided house. He's not standing up in front of the Republicans saying "guys, this is awesome, let's keep it up." A lot of his dissatisfaction with the current situation, unsurprisingly, directed towards Stephen Douglas, his imminent rival.
Some of the more subtle lines in "House Divided" could be not-so subtle depending on the delivery, but sadly, we weren't here in 1858 and can't be sure how dripping Lincoln's voice was in derision. It's still very clear, though, that the future president has some strong feelings about the state of things in 1858 America.
Questions About Dissatisfaction
- What piece of legislation is the biggest cause of dissatisfaction for Lincoln in the "House Divided" speech?
- Do you think Lincoln's audience for this speech would be experiencing similar feelings of frustration with the current state of affairs? Why or why not?
- Does Lincoln effectively convey and explain his dissatisfaction? Explain your answer.
- Although Lincoln focuses mostly on recent events, what other events in the course of U.S. history to that point (1776-1858) contributed to the situation that frustrates him?
Chew on This
If only people had discovered the healing power of the song "Kumbaya" by 1858, we might not have a "House Divided" speech, because everyone would be friends again and Lincoln would be happy.
If they ever make a movie featuring this speech, there's a really great Rolling Stones song that Lincoln should walk on to. Take note, Hollywood.