65 pages • 2 hours read
Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker
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Symbols & Motifs
The Medallion Quilt
A labor of love, Elizabeth’s Medallion Quilt signifies the critical work that Elizabeth completed for Mrs. Lincoln, in addition to representing Elizabeth’s significant, valuable skills. Made from the scraps of Mrs. Lincoln’s dresses, the quilt represents how Elizabeth and Mrs. Lincoln are historically stitched together. Elizabeth shows her quilt to her students at Wilberforce University, who “marveled at her quilt, and they sympathized when she expressed her regret that she had been unable to give it to Mrs. Lincoln as she had intended” (337). While Elizabeth’s talent is evident in crafting the medallion quilt, the scraps of fabric sewn together wouldn’t be half as valuable or exciting if not for Mrs. Lincoln. Although her position as an upper-class lady often complicates her friendships, Elizabeth benefits from Mrs. Lincoln being in her elevated position. The collection of fabrics symbolizes Mrs. Lincoln’s, perhaps excessive, appreciation for finery. Elizabeth kept the fabric scraps, transforming them into a valuable item representing her industriousness.
The fact that Elizabeth could never give Mrs. Lincoln the completed quilt represents the tragic lost love between friends. Packing the quilt away in a trunk, Elizabeth believes Mrs. Lincoln chooses to leave for an indefinite European tour to “fleeing grief and unhappy memories—one of which, Elizabeth could only assume, was the ruin of their friendship” (328). Mrs. Lincoln’s power and influence, combined with Elizabeth’s talent and skill, creates an intimidating team. Mrs. Lincoln loses much by failing to forgive Elizabeth, including her ability to view, appreciate, and own the medallion quilt.
Slow Train Rides
Returning from a southern tour, Elizabeth feels frustrated at the slow pace of the train ride back to Washington City. Her irritation mirrors her feelings about the slow progress of change for enslaved people. “Their pace was so slow that President Lincoln was able to observe a terrapin basking in the warm sunshine on the wayside” (204). Having just met with old friends from her time as an enslaved person, Elizabeth correctly predicts the brutalities that await people of color in the South during American Reconstruction. While understanding that change takes time, Elizabeth knows that more lives will be lost and much suffering will be endured before people come to terms with a free, more equal America.
Similarly, Elizabeth’s slow train ride out of Chicago represents her frustration with her souring relationship with Mrs. Lincoln. Having listened to multiple insensitive comments from Mrs. Lincoln, Robert, and Tad, Elizabeth feels thankful to return to her own space: “The train ride east was long and tiresome, but each mile brought her closer to home” (260). The complexities within her friendship with Mrs. Lincoln become more evident in Mr. Lincoln’s absence. For the first time, Elizabeth feels thankful to move away from Mrs. Lincoln and return to her business and more genuine friends. The train ride away from Chicago marks a turning point for Elizabeth and Mrs. Lincoln’s friendship. While Elizabeth feels reluctant to distance herself from Mrs. Lincoln, she makes the difficult decision to prioritize her professional and personal needs.
Ghosts and Premonitions
Elizabeth occasionally sees the ghosts of her husband and son, representing the trauma that haunts her amidst her professional success. Considering if her estranged husband will enlist in the Union Army, Elizabeth sees “James’s visage appear[…] so clearly to her mind’s eye that it was as if he stood before her, not rambling and drunk as he had been in their last years together but smiling, bold, and handsome as he had been when they first met” (40-41). Although Elizabeth is the most sought-after seamstress in Washington City, moments from her past flash in front of her, reminding her of the more challenging life she came from. While Elizabeth’s vision feels supernatural, especially when she learns of James’s death so soon after his image appears to her, the moment symbolizes how clearly Elizabeth remembers her life before moving to Washington City. In remembering where she came from, Elizabeth can more easily empathize with those needing help while working to improve their circumstances.
Mrs. Lincoln is haunted by the ghosts of her young sons, representing her profound grief and inability to accept a world without her children. Seeking counsel from spiritualists, Mrs. Lincoln insists “that her dear sons Willie and Eddie did indeed appear to her, not only in the midst of a séance, but beside her bed at night, waking her from sleep to assure her they were together and happy in heaven” (136). The ghosts of Willie and Eddie embody Mrs. Lincoln’s heartfelt misery in continuing to live in a world without her children. She confesses to Elizabeth on multiple occasions that she would prefer for her life to end so she may be reunited with her husband and young sons, though she perseveres for Tad and Robert’s sake. She literally cannot accept their absence. Mrs. Lincoln’s intense grief speaks to the immeasurable love she has for her family.
Mr. Lincoln also confides in seeing his face in a ghostly form and dreaming about his wake, among other premonitions. His brush with the supernatural stems from his heavy conscience, having made difficult decisions as a war leader. Mrs. Lincoln reports the dream to Elizabeth: “He describes himself as aboard a ship [...] moving swiftly toward a dark and indefinite shore. He had this dream before Antietam, Murfreesboro, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg” (214-15). Though eerie, Mr. Lincoln’s premonitions demonstrate his uncanny ability to predict the future. Separate from his assassination, Mr. Lincoln accurately envisions a United States free from slavery. His capacity to know what’s in store for himself and his country, along with his upstanding moral compass, results in Mr. Lincoln’s greatness as president.
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