Supple-tempered will: One of the most pronounced traits of by James Russell Lowell: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This brief verse paints a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as a man of unique balance: kind and approachable on the surface, yet strong and steadfast beneath.
The poem
Lincoln's character was his kindly, almost femininely gentle and sympathetic spirit. With this, however, was combined a determination of steel. 175-178. Nothing of Europe here: There was nothing of Europe in him, or, if anything, it was of Europe in her early ages of freedom before there was any distinction of slave and master, groveling Russian Serf and noble Lord or Peer.
This brief verse paints a portrait of Abraham Lincoln as a man of unique balance: kind and approachable on the surface, yet strong and steadfast beneath. Lowell contends that Lincoln's character was distinctly American — grounded in a more liberated spirit that existed before Europe's class divisions. It’s a tribute that suggests Lincoln emerged from a time before kings and serfs, before the idea of anyone being born superior or inferior to another took hold.
Line-by-line
Lincoln's character was his kindly, almost femininely gentle and sympathetic spirit.
With this, however, was combined a determination of steel.
Nothing of Europe here: There was nothing of Europe in him,
or, if anything, it was of Europe in her early ages of freedom before there was any distinction of slave and master,
groveling Russian Serf and noble Lord or Peer.
Tone & mood
Lowell writes with conviction, inviting you to see the world through his eyes. There's no hesitation or qualification—just a clear, confident portrayal crafted in strong, straightforward prose-verse. The tone is uplifting without becoming overly sentimental, and his admiration stays grounded, avoiding any hint of idolization.
Symbols & metaphors
- Determination of steel — Steel represents Lincoln's steadfast inner resolve, the quality that kept him steady throughout the Civil War. Combining it with "gentle" introduces the core tension of the poem: true strength can coexist with tenderness.
- Europe — Europe represents an inherited hierarchy and a rigid class system, reflecting a long history where some are born to rule while others are born to serve. It embodies the Old World in a negative light — everything the American experiment aimed to escape.
- The Russian Serf and the Lord — These two figures illustrate a fractured social order — one marked by complete subjugation and the other by unearned privilege. Together, they embody the system that Lincoln's character, and America's founding promise, resisted.
- Early ages of freedom — Lowell envisions a pre-feudal Europe as a golden age of equality. This mythical reference point allows him to celebrate Lincoln as someone who restored an ancient sense of human dignity, rather than merely creating an American version.
Historical context
James Russell Lowell wrote this passage as part of his tribute to Abraham Lincoln, likely penned in the years after Lincoln's assassination in 1865. As one of the prominent literary figures of 19th-century America—a poet, critic, and editor of *The Atlantic Monthly*—Lowell approached his assessment of Lincoln with both scholarly insight and patriotic sentiment. The mention of the "Russian Serf" would have struck a chord with contemporary readers: serfdom in Russia was only abolished in 1861, the same year the American Civil War started, and the comparison between Russian serfs and American slaves was a hot topic in political discussions at the time. Lowell's argument—that Lincoln represented a form of freedom that predated European class systems—sought to anchor American democracy in something more profound than just politics.
FAQ
He's making a clear point about strength. In the 1800s, calling a powerful man "gentle" could easily come off as an insult. Lowell embraces this idea, arguing that Lincoln's warmth and empathy were *strengths*, not weaknesses. By using the word "femininely," he emphasizes that this gentleness was real and profound — not just a political act.
Lowell is presenting a cultural argument: Lincoln wasn’t influenced by the European tradition of rigid social hierarchies, where your birth dictated your value. He was raised in a society free from lords and serfs, which shaped his instinct to treat people as equals. Essentially, this suggests that Lincoln was genuinely, uniquely American.
It shows that Lincoln had a strong inner determination. Even though he was kind in his interactions, he stood firm when it counted. Lowell chooses steel because it's tough, dependable, and resistant to corrosion — the very traits he connects to Lincoln's will.
Because Russian serfdom was a clear and striking example of total human oppression for Lowell's readers. Russia freed its serfs in 1861 — the same year the American Civil War began — making the comparison between serfs and enslaved Americans particularly relevant. Mentioning the Russian serf highlighted the contrast with Lincoln's commitment to equality.
It sits in between. Lowell wrote in a vibrant, rhythmic style that often feels like poetry, and this passage captures the essence and imagery of verse even without a fixed meter or rhyme. It’s best seen as a prose poem or a lyric essay—a form Lowell frequently employed in his critical and commemorative works.
He's picturing a legendary, pre-feudal Europe, one without kings, nobles, and serfs restricting people's social roles. This approach allows him to suggest that if Lincoln had any connection to Europe, it came from that earlier, more liberated era — not from the Europe dominated by aristocrats and peasants.
That Lincoln embodied a remarkable blend of opposites — he was both gentle and iron-willed, warm and resolute — and this unique combination stemmed from a truly American character free from the constraints of Old World hierarchies. Lowell suggests that Lincoln was more than just a great president; he demonstrated that a new kind of human being could exist.