An antihero for history: Karl Marx and the mythification of Abraham Lincoln
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...
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | Uruguay |
| Institución: | Universidad de Montevideo |
| Repositorio: | REDUM |
| Idioma: | español |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:redum.um.edu.uy:20.500.12806/2777 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://revistas.um.edu.uy/index.php/revistahumanidades/article/view/1678 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Abraham Lincoln Karl Marx Mitificación Antihéroe Héroe Opinión pública Mythification Antihero Hero Public opinion Mitificação Anti-herói Herói Opinião pública |
| Sumario: | 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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