Jack Manders Character Analysis in Lincoln in the Bardo

The groundskeeper who works at the cemetery where Willie Lincoln is interred. When President Lincoln arrives at the graveyard late at night, Manders lets him even though there are rules preventing him from allowing people to enter after dark. Lincoln doesn’t return for hours, so Manders goes looking for him with a lantern, eventually finding him at Willie’s crypt. Together, the two men walk back toward the front gate, but Lincoln confides in the groundskeeper that he feels like Willie is still with him in this place. As such, the president decides to sit a while in the chapel while Manders returns to the watchman’s house. Manders records this story in the watchman logbook, addressing his account to a man named Tom. Later, when Lincoln finally leaves, Manders exchanges a few words with Isabelle Perkins—who lives across the street—about the tragedy of Willie’s death.

Jack Manders Character Timeline in Lincoln in the Bardo

The timeline below shows where the character Jack Manders appears in Lincoln in the Bardo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Jack Manders writes in Oak Hill Cemetery’s watchman’s logbook about seeing President Lincoln arrive at the cemetery... (full context)

Manders remarks that Lincoln arrived at the cemetery alone on a small horse, upon which his... (full context)

...come to the graveyard at this time of night. She writes that she can see Manders’s light on in his house across the way (at the edge of the cemetery), where... (full context)

...into his father, though, a lantern light wobbles in the distance. Searching for the president, Manders approaches the crypt, calling out, “Mr. President” as he goes. “He calls for my father,”... (full context)

Manders enters the crypt and says, “Ah. Here you are. Sir.” Getting to his feet, Lincoln... (full context)

...many wills, memories, complaints, desires, so much raw life-force,” Bevins says. As Lincoln walks behind Manders, Vollman asks the large group inside to focus its collective attention on telling the president... (full context)

Writing again in the watchman’s logbook, Manders recounts escorting Lincoln away from Willie’s crypt. As they approached the front gate, he explains,... (full context)

...and ride away. Looking across the road, she opened her window and shouted to ask Manders if it was truly the president who just departed the cemetery. When he confirms that... (full context)

In the logbook, Manders confirms that Lincoln has finally left the cemetery. He notes that he saw Isabelle Perkins... (full context)

Manders makes a final entry in the cemetery logbook, explaining that he has just returned from... (full context)