From nothingness, there arose great love; now, its source nullified, that love, searching and sick, converts to the most abysmal suffering imaginable.
Introduction
George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo is a groundbreaking novel that blends historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural. It narrates a deeply personal and historical moment: the death of President Abraham Lincoln’s young son, Willie, during the Civil War. Set in a graveyard over a single night, the story unravels through a unique narrative style that combines an extensive cast of ghostly voices with excerpts from historical texts. The novel’s innovative structure and profound exploration of grief, love, and human connection earned it the 2017 Man Booker Prize. This review dives into its synopsis, themes, and stylistic brilliance, drawing upon selected quotes to illustrate its depth.
Synopsis
The novel opens with a vivid and poignant scene of young Willie Lincoln’s death in 1862. Despite the ongoing Civil War, President Lincoln hosts a state dinner, even as his son battles a fever upstairs. The child succumbs to typhoid, leaving the President devastated.
Willie’s spirit lingers in the graveyard, joined by a host of other spectral beings trapped in the "bardo," a Tibetan concept representing a transitional state between life and afterlife. These spirits include Hans Vollman, a printer who died before consummating his marriage, Roger Bevins III, a suicide driven by unfulfilled love, and the Reverend Everly Thomas, whose presence in the bardo raises theological questions.
The plot is largely propelled by their interactions and their attempts to guide Willie, who refuses to move on, hoping for his father’s return. President Lincoln, stricken by grief, visits the cemetery and cradles Willie’s body in a heartbreaking moment. This connection bridges the living and the dead, underscoring the central theme of enduring bonds.
Thematic Analysis
1. Grief and Parental Love
At its core, Lincoln in the Bardo is a meditation on grief, particularly the unbearable pain of losing a child. President Lincoln’s sorrow is vividly portrayed as he mourns Willie, reflecting the universality of parental love. The ghosts’ collective yearning to return to their lives parallels Lincoln’s desperate wish to undo fate.
Quote: “We have loved each other well, dear Willie, but now, for reasons we cannot understand, that bond has been broken. But our bond can never be broken. As long as I live, you will always be with me.” This line captures Lincoln’s unyielding love and the enduring connection between parent and child.
2. The Nature of the Afterlife
The concept of the bardo offers a rich exploration of liminality—being caught between worlds. Each ghost in the cemetery clings to unresolved aspects of their lives, embodying their refusal to accept mortality. This refusal is poignant and often tragic, as seen in characters like Vollman and Bevins, who manifest physical traits symbolizing their unfulfilled desires and regrets.
Quote: “It was all too much, too private, and I left that place, and walked alone.” This sentiment reflects the characters’ internal struggles with moving on, as well as the deep intimacy of their experiences.
3. Historical and Social Context
The novel is steeped in the turbulence of the Civil War, which looms over Lincoln’s personal grief. The tension between the nation’s suffering and the President’s private loss creates a compelling backdrop. Through historical excerpts, Saunders juxtaposes personal and collective tragedies, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human experiences.
Quote: “The war was less than a year old. We did not yet know what it was.” This reflects the nation’s naivety about the horrors of war, paralleling Lincoln’s realization of life’s unpredictability.
4. Community and Connection
The spirits’ interactions reveal a yearning for community and understanding. Despite their differences in life, they find solace in shared narratives. This theme resonates with Lincoln’s compassionate leadership, which sought to unite a divided nation.
Quote: “It was cheering. It gave us hope. We were perhaps not so unlovable as we had come to believe.” This captures the profound impact of connection on the characters, both living and dead.
5. Narrative Style and Innovation
Saunders employs an unconventional narrative technique that blends historical sources with fictional monologues. The result is a patchwork of voices, offering a multifaceted view of grief, love, and mortality. This structure challenges traditional storytelling and demands active engagement from the reader.
The fragmented style mirrors the chaos and multiplicity of human emotions. By interweaving historical texts and ghostly voices, Saunders creates a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive, personal and collective.
Conclusion
Lincoln in the Bardo is an extraordinary literary achievement that combines historical resonance with profound emotional insight. Through its innovative structure and compelling characters, it offers a unique exploration of grief, love, and the human condition. The novel challenges conventional notions of storytelling while delivering a deeply moving portrayal of a father’s love for his son and a nation grappling with its identity. Saunders’ work is a testament to the enduring power of literature to connect us across time, space, and existence.