What is Lincoln in the Bardo about?

• Grieving Lincoln visits son: The novel centers on Abraham Lincoln's grief over the death of his son, Willie, and his visits to the cemetery where Willie is interred.
• Spirits in a liminal space: The story unfolds in a bardo-like realm, a space between life and death, where spirits linger, grappling with their past lives and their inability to move on.
• Exploration of loss and connection: The narrative explores themes of grief, love, loss, and the interconnectedness of human experiences through the interactions of Lincoln and the spirits.

Why should I read Lincoln in the Bardo?

• Unique narrative style: George Saunders employs a distinctive multi-voiced narrative, creating a rich and immersive reading experience that challenges traditional storytelling.
• Profound emotional depth: The novel delves into the complexities of grief and loss, offering a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.
• Blend of history and the supernatural: The story seamlessly blends historical events with supernatural elements, creating a surreal and captivating world that explores the boundaries between life and death.

What is the background of Lincoln in the Bardo?

• Historical setting: The novel is set during the American Civil War, specifically in 1862, a time of great national turmoil and personal loss for President Lincoln.
• Tibetan Buddhist concept: The "bardo" is a Tibetan Buddhist concept referring to an intermediate state between death and rebirth, which serves as the setting for the spirits' limbo.
• Grief and mortality: The story is deeply rooted in the historical context of Lincoln's personal grief over his son's death, using this as a lens to explore universal themes of mortality and the afterlife.

What are the most memorable quotes in Lincoln in the Bardo?

• "We were perhaps not so unlovable as we had come to believe.": This quote encapsulates the spirits' yearning for connection and validation, highlighting their struggle with self-worth in the afterlife.
• "You are a wave that has crashed upon the shore.": This recurring phrase, used by the spirits to encourage each other to move on, reflects the cyclical nature of life and death and the inevitability of change.
• "It was the touching that was unusual.": This quote emphasizes the profound impact of physical connection and affection, a rare and cherished experience for the spirits in their liminal state.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does George Saunders use?

• Multi-voiced narration: Saunders employs a unique narrative structure with numerous voices, creating a chorus of perspectives that offer a rich and complex view of the story.
• Fragmented and non-linear: The narrative is often fragmented and non-linear, mirroring the chaotic and disorienting nature of the bardo and the characters' emotional states.
• Blending of historical and supernatural: Saunders seamlessly blends historical details with supernatural elements, creating a surreal and thought-provoking world that challenges traditional notions of reality.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

• The descriptions of the sick-boxes: The sick-boxes, where the spirits are confined, are described in detail, highlighting the limitations and frustrations of their existence and their inability to fully move on.
• The recurring mention of the moon: The moon's appearance, often described differently by various characters, symbolizes the subjective nature of perception and the unreliability of memory.
• The specific details of the food and drink: The descriptions of the food and drink, often lavish and excessive, contrast with the spirits' inability to fully enjoy them, emphasizing their detachment from the physical world.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

• The Traynor girl's transformations: The Traynor girl's constant transformations into different forms foreshadow the impermanence and instability of the spirits' existence in the bardo.
• The recurring phrase "We say these things to speed you along": This phrase, used by the spirits when trying to convince others to move on, foreshadows their own eventual departures and the cyclical nature of the bardo.
• The mention of the beam that hit Vollman: The beam that hit Hans Vollman is mentioned early in the story, and its significance is revealed later, highlighting the arbitrary nature of fate and the fragility of life.

What are some unexpected character connections?

• The shared experience of the Barons and Elson Farwell: The Barons, a white couple, and Elson Farwell, a black man, share a common experience of being marginalized and mistreated, highlighting the universality of suffering.
• The connection between Mrs. Blass and Miranda Debb: Mrs. Blass, an old woman, and Miranda Debb, a young girl, share a connection through their shared experiences of loss and longing, transcending age and social status.
• The shared experience of the three main spirits: Hans Vollman, Roger Bevins III, and Reverend Everly Thomas, despite their different backgrounds and personalities, are connected by their shared desire for meaning and purpose in the afterlife.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

• The Bachelors: These characters provide comic relief and a contrasting perspective on the seriousness of the other spirits' situations, highlighting the tension between avoidance and acceptance.
• Mrs. Francis Hodge: Her compassion and empathy for others make her a key figure in the community of spirits, as she works to support and uplift those around her.
• Elson Farwell: His struggle with anger and resentment over the injustices he faced in life highlights the themes of forgiveness and the enduring impact of trauma.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

• Lincoln's need for connection: Lincoln's visits to the cemetery are driven by his unspoken need to connect with his son and find solace in his grief, even if it means interacting with the spirits.
• The spirits' desire for validation: The spirits' interactions with each other and with Lincoln are motivated by their unspoken desire for validation and recognition of their lives and experiences.
• The Bachelors' fear of commitment: The Bachelors' playful and carefree attitude masks their unspoken fear of commitment and their desire to avoid the deeper issues of life and death.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

• Lincoln's internal conflict: Lincoln is torn between his duties as President and his overwhelming grief, highlighting the psychological toll of leadership and personal loss.
• The spirits' denial and clinging to the past: The spirits' inability to accept their deaths and their clinging to the remnants of their earthly lives reveal the psychological complexities of grief and the fear of the unknown.
• The Reverend's internal struggle: The Reverend's internal struggle with his faith and his doubts about the afterlife highlights the psychological complexities of belief and the human need for meaning.

What are the major emotional turning points?

• Lincoln's first visit to the crypt: Lincoln's initial visit to the crypt where Willie is interred marks a turning point, as it sets the stage for his interactions with the spirits and his journey through grief.
• The spirits' collective effort to help Willie: The spirits' decision to work together to help Willie move on marks a turning point, as it highlights their capacity for empathy and their desire for connection.
• Willie's acceptance of his death: Willie's eventual acceptance of his death and his decision to move on to the afterlife marks a turning point, as it symbolizes the possibility of peace and liberation.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

• The spirits' initial isolation to community: The spirits initially exist in a state of isolation, but their interactions with each other and with Lincoln lead to the formation of a community, highlighting the importance of connection and shared experience.
• The evolving relationship between Lincoln and Willie: Lincoln's relationship with Willie evolves from one of grief and longing to one of acceptance and letting go, highlighting the transformative power of love and loss.
• The changing dynamics among the spirits: The relationships among the spirits evolve as they confront their past lives and their fears about the afterlife, leading to moments of both conflict and connection.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

• The nature of the bardo: The exact nature of the bardo and its rules remain ambiguous, leaving the reader to question the boundaries between life and death and the nature of reality.
• The ultimate fate of the spirits: The ultimate fate of the spirits who move on from the bardo is left open-ended, leaving the reader to ponder the possibilities of the afterlife and the nature of redemption.
• The meaning of Lincoln's transformation: The extent of Lincoln's transformation and the long-term impact of his experience in the bardo remain ambiguous, leaving the reader to consider the complexities of grief and the challenges of leadership.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Lincoln in the Bardo?

• The spirits' attempts to manipulate Lincoln: The spirits' attempts to manipulate Lincoln and influence his actions raise questions about the ethics of their interference and the nature of free will.
• The graphic descriptions of the spirits' suffering: The graphic descriptions of the spirits' suffering and their often grotesque physical forms may be disturbing to some readers, raising questions about the limits of empathy and the nature of pain.
• The portrayal of Lincoln's grief: The portrayal of Lincoln's grief as both a source of strength and a potential weakness may be controversial, raising questions about the nature of leadership and the role of personal emotions in public life.

Lincoln in the Bardo Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

• Willie's departure: Willie's departure from the bardo signifies the acceptance of death and the possibility of peace, but also highlights the finality of loss and the enduring impact of grief.
• Lincoln's return to the living world: Lincoln's return to the living world, though marked by a sense of loss, is also a testament to his resilience and his commitment to his duties as President.
• The spirits' varied fates: The varied fates of the spirits, some moving on and others remaining trapped, underscore the complexities of the afterlife and the different paths individuals take in their journey through grief and acceptance.