An antihero for history
Karl Marx and the mythification of Abraham Lincoln
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25185/18.11Keywords:
Abraham Lincoln, Karl Marx, Mythification, Antihero, Hero, Public opinionAbstract
This article analyzes the process of mythification of a historical figure in a highly documented era, enabled by the presence of mass media. It examines the case of Abraham Lincoln through the writings of Karl Marx as a journalist, a direct observer of Lincoln’s presidency and his hesitant stance on slavery during the American Civil War. Marx moves from indifference to reproach, eventually arriving at a form of critical admiration that frames Lincoln as an antihero—a hero who does not appear to be one. Lincoln’s assassination ultimately elevates him to the status of a foundational myth, and Marx, aligning himself with the currents of global public opinion, also contributes to this symbolic construction.
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