Abe Lincoln in Illinois Chapter Summary & Analysis - Act 2, Scene 8 Summary

Act 2, Scene 8 Summary

A few days after meeting Seth near Old Salem, Abe returns to the Edwards home to call on Mary Todd. Mary is startled when the maid tells her that he is here and takes a few minutes to compose herself. When he comes into the room, he wants to get right to his point, but she is trying to be sociable. Abe apologizes for his behavior at their last meeting, the day that would have been their wedding day. Mary excuses him and tells him that whatever happened was her fault because she had been blinded by her own self-confidence. Mary felt that she could make him love her and that they could achieve a union where her fire would burn in him. Abe would be a leader of men but he didn't want that. Mary knows that he is strong, but she never dreamed that he would use that...
(read more)