Two Treatises of Government · Character

Abraham

The biblical patriarch invoked in disputes over paternal power and property, whose story Locke uses to test whether fatherhood alone confers dominion.

supporting

First appearance: iii of adam s title to sovereignty by creation

As a supporting figure in Two Treatises of Government, Abraham is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Abraham is mentioned in Filmer's arguments regarding fatherhood and political power.

In the storyBook I: Of GovernmentOpen this moment free

See Abraham in Book I: Of Government Book page

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Abraham enters the argument as a scriptural precedent for how paternal authority and property rights actually operated among the patriarchs, not as Filmer imagines them. The tension lies in whether his dealings with sons and servants demonstrate absolute fatherly rule or something more contractual and limited. His presence in the First Treatise matters because Locke needs biblical history itself to show that even the patriarchs did not exercise the unbounded sovereignty Filmer attributes to them.

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See Abraham in iii of adam s title to sovereignty by creation

Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how Abraham sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Patriarchal lineage and inheritance
Protagonist
Diverse biblical and legal authorities

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs as the endnotes abruptly shift from Locke’s own argument to a dens…

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Relationships

Adam
family · positive
Abraham is a descendant of Adam, and their connection is used to discuss inheritance of… How this plays out →
Isaac
family · positive
Jacob
family · positive
Sarah
family · positive
Adam
family · positive
Abraham is a descendant of Adam, and their connection is used to discuss inheritance of… How this plays out →
Isaac
family · positive
Sarah
family · positive
Jacob
family · positive

Adam
Abraham is a descendant of Adam, and their connection is used to discuss inheritance of dominion and covenant.
Isaac
Abraham is the father of Isaac, and their relationship is central to the patriarchal succession and promise of inheritance.
Jacob
Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob, and Jacob inherits the covenant promises made to Abraham.
Sarah
Abraham and Sarah are husband and wife, and their relationship is central to the birth of Isaac and the covenant.
Adam
Abraham is a descendant of Adam, and their connection is used to discuss inheritance of dominion and covenant.
Isaac
Abraham is the father of Isaac, and their relationship is central to the patriarchal succession and promise of inheritance.
Sarah
Abraham and Sarah are husband and wife, and their relationship is central to the birth of Isaac and the covenant.
Jacob
Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob, and Jacob inherits the covenant promises made to Abraham.

Relationship notes

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See Abraham in iii of adam s title to sovereignty by creation

In the story

Abraham appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book I: Of Government
Abraham is mentioned in Filmer's arguments regarding fatherhood and political power.
Of Monarchy, by Inheritance from Adam
Mentioned in the context of patriarchal succession; Locke's reasoning about equal rights to property undermines any exclusive inheritance claim.
XI: Who Heir?
Locke uses the example of God's grant of Canaan to Abraham and his seed to illustrate the absurdity of a grant without a clear heir.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Abraham unlock in the free preview.

See Abraham in iii of adam s title to sovereignty by creation

See Abraham in Book I: Of Government