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Farewell Address
Themes and Colors
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Farewell Address, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Parting, Gratitude, and Remembrance
In his Farewell Address, Abraham Lincoln expresses his gratitude for Springfield, Illinois and everyone who has made it a home for him and his family. Speaking from the train station just before departing for Washington DC, he addresses the audience as his friends. Because the city has been his home for a quarter of a century, he has personal relationships with many of the people standing before him. By openly addressing these people, Lincoln reveals…
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The Passage of Time
Over the course of his Farewell Address, Abraham Lincoln reflects on the passage of time, both looking back and looking ahead. In addition to having been his home for “a quarter of a century,” the Illinois capital has served as the backdrop of his transformation from “a young to an old man.” Using the ideas of duration and growth to corroborate the strength of his attachment, Lincoln seems to perceive a direct relationship between…
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Faith and Providence
Around the middle of the Farewell Address, Lincoln turns to his faith. Following a brief yet frank discussion of his inability to know what the future holds, his apprehensive tone mellows as he takes comfort in divine providence. Although the underlying uncertainty remains, Lincoln’s faith gives new energy to the second half of the speech. While his belief in God does not entirely eradicate his apprehension about what lies ahead, his faith gives him determination…
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