Literature
The Last Line of Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address: A Journey Through Variations
The Last Line of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: A Journey Through Variations
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is one of the most recognized and celebrated speeches in American history. Delivered on November 19, 1863, it has become a symbol of democracy and freedom. There are at least five versions of the speech, each reflecting different recordings and transcriptions by various individuals. This article delves into the variations of the final run-on sentence, highlighting the official version and the discrepancies among the different transcriptions.
Variations of the Final Sentences
The text below aims to accommodate the five versions of the last run-on sentence of the speech. The variations are marked with square brackets to indicate differences:
It is rather for us[] [the living we here be/to be here] dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that[] from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they [here] gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve [that] these dead shall not have died in vain [:/–] that [the/this] nation[] [under God] shall have a new birth of freedom [/:/–] and that[] [this] government of the people[] by the people[] for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Here is the official version:
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Conflicting Versions and Their Significance
There are several documented versions of the last run-on sentence, reflecting the inconsistencies in the recordings. One notable version includes the phrase 'we here be' instead of 'to be here.' Similarly, some variations modify the sentence structure and punctuation, altering the final effect of the speech.
Historian Gary Wills has suggested that those variations may have been Lincoln's attempt to refine the speech for publication. Lincoln himself made several edits to the speech, but the Gettysburg Address as we know it today may not fully reflect the original intent of the speech during its delivery.
The Last Line at the Lincoln Memorial
A notable discrepancy between the officially recognized versions and the version depicted at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC is the last line. At the memorial, the last phrase is displayed as:
NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH
This differs from the generally accepted version in several ways. It is devoid of the final period, doesn't include the phrase 'this nation under God,' and minimizes the involvement of the people in the government by using fewer phrases. These changes reflect the memorial's emphasis on brevity and the powerful impact of a succinct final statement.
Conclusion
The variations in the Gettysburg Address's final sentences and the official version reflect the complex history of the speech. The differences in the last lines highlight the evolving nature of public memorials and their presentation of historical events. The Gettysburg Address remains one of the most cherished and studied documents in American history, and its intricacies continue to fascinate scholars and the public alike.
For a deeper dive into the historical context, implications, and significance of the Gettysburg Address, refer to further academic research and resources in the field of American history.