How Is Walt Whitman Relevant Today
“Each belongs here or anywhere just as much as the welloff… just as much as you, Each has his or her place in the procession” (Whitman 95). Walt Whitman is an essential figure in American literature. He has joined the ranks of other great poets of the age such as Emerson and Thoreau. Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is the product of a unique mind that had strong ideas on various aspects of both humanity and life as a whole. This interesting man also goes into unchartered territory with his detailed sexual discussion to bringing light to humanity and equality which he obviously thought should be a part of our culture. Although the American audience was initially not entirely receptive of the viewpoints that Whitman had to offer, his poetry still lives on to be very relevant today and has been greatly admired. By discussing the topics of nature, humanity, America, and life in general, Whitman seems to enlighten his audiences on new perspectives through his exploration on these different topics with the great
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use of both his style and structure. Overall this piece helps give insight to the unique perspective of a man who is both intelligent and free spirited. One of the defining characteristics of the Leaves of Grass text is how Whitman as the speaker feels that every human is somehow connected. A great description of the speaker of the text is given by Ivan Marki, “The key to the personality of the speaker is the speaker’s intuitive certainty that by being himself and himself alone he is everyone else and that, beyond all apparent conflicts, differences, and contradictions, he and America, thus people and land, are one” (Marki). The speaker of the poetry is essential in providing the reader for a descriptive definition of the inner feelings of Whitman. Throughout the poems there are various occasions where the speaker talks about the connection he feels with all others and also how he feels so passionately about America. He loves the liberty of America and the cohesion of the people. There are various instances where he shares a feeling of connection with all Americans. It is an interesting perspective and a rarity that someone can feel such a connection with all other members of humanity and try to create such equality through his work. We, also, see Whitman’s free-verse poetry provides powerful messages that he passionately wished to share with others.
It is apparent that he wished to use his poetry to help others live more freely and equally. He had many ideas that were troubling to comprehend throughout his project but he made sure that certain ideas were explicit for the reader to understand. For example, throughout the text he often describes the immortality of humanity. At one point he declares, “I swear I think there is nothing but immortality” (Whitman 83). Also, much like the opening quote there are many instances of Whitman attempting to send a message advocating for general equality among humans. Another line states, “In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barleycorn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them” (Whitman 35). Oftentimes Whitman creates a comparison that stresses the similarities and the lack of differences between different
individuals. In reading the insightful poetry of Whitman, it is impossible to ignore his deep connection to the sexual aspect of life and how it almost acts as a window to the soul. A literary critic, James E. Miller Jr. stated, “From the very beginning, Whitman wove together themes of "manly love" and "sexual love," with great emphasis on intensely passionate attraction and interaction, as well as bodily contact (touch, embrace) in both” (Miller). In other portions of the poems there are instances of metaphors for various sexual experiences, such as male ejaculation and male to male attraction. These even today are taboo subjects for most ordinary conversation. At the time of publication these were surely new topics being presented to the public and should not be surprising that this writing would spark criticism, yet we can see Whitman establishing these points in his poetry as a way of trying to bring together this aspect of equality and something new to America. Another interesting topic is Whitman’s style of poetry. Other than being a unique free-verse he acts as the speaker during the majority of the poem. Not only does he often take the form of the speaker but often directly inserts himself into the poems. For instance he inserts himself into the poetry when he uses his own name as a character in the poem. Other than this odd third person reference of himself he often takes the first person when describing events and gives his reader an insight into his perspective and soul. Also, Whitman likes to use short stories in order to present his views in a more captivating style. “Twenty-eight young men bathe by the shore” begins one of the main short stories where Whitman uses a short story to provide a point (Whitman 28). It is also one of the more sexual passages of the book but it is one of the numerous random stories that Whitman describes. Not only that, but an obvious signature of Whitman’s poetry is his explicit infatuation with the natural world. There are many detailed descriptions of natural settings and the beauty of all things natural including: I depart as air… I shake my white locks at the runaway sun, I effuse my flesh in eddies and drift it in lacy jags. I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your bootsoles (Whitman 68).
This passage is one of plentiful examples where Whitman is placing himself within nature. The reader can feel his fascination for the world through his extravagant descriptions of all things natural. We see this type of style and structure of nature as a way of bringing light to his Transcendentalism view through the nature, soul and body. In the end Whitman’s Leaves of Grass can be described in many ways. Its form and topics are sporadic yet accurately portray the deep perspectives of the writer. His views on nature, humanity, America, and life in general are strewn across the pages of this poetic masterpiece which has survived early scrutiny to still be relevant today. Understanding the words on the pages is not always easy but there are various interpretations that allow for the reader to deeply ponder the meanings of many aspects of life. Overall reading Leaves of Grass can lead the reader on an exploration from sex to things as complex as life and the idea of immortality. In conclusion, Walt Whitman wrote a story that went beyond the 113 pages of the book and provides a caricature of a complex and creative mind.
use of both his style and structure. Overall this piece helps give insight to the unique perspective of a man who is both intelligent and free spirited. One of the defining characteristics of the Leaves of Grass text is how Whitman as the speaker feels that every human is somehow connected. A great description of the speaker of the text is given by Ivan Marki, “The key to the personality of the speaker is the speaker’s intuitive certainty that by being himself and himself alone he is everyone else and that, beyond all apparent conflicts, differences, and contradictions, he and America, thus people and land, are one” (Marki). The speaker of the poetry is essential in providing the reader for a descriptive definition of the inner feelings of Whitman. Throughout the poems there are various occasions where the speaker talks about the connection he feels with all others and also how he feels so passionately about America. He loves the liberty of America and the cohesion of the people. There are various instances where he shares a feeling of connection with all Americans. It is an interesting perspective and a rarity that someone can feel such a connection with all other members of humanity and try to create such equality through his work. We, also, see Whitman’s free-verse poetry provides powerful messages that he passionately wished to share with others.
It is apparent that he wished to use his poetry to help others live more freely and equally. He had many ideas that were troubling to comprehend throughout his project but he made sure that certain ideas were explicit for the reader to understand. For example, throughout the text he often describes the immortality of humanity. At one point he declares, “I swear I think there is nothing but immortality” (Whitman 83). Also, much like the opening quote there are many instances of Whitman attempting to send a message advocating for general equality among humans. Another line states, “In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barleycorn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them” (Whitman 35). Oftentimes Whitman creates a comparison that stresses the similarities and the lack of differences between different
individuals. In reading the insightful poetry of Whitman, it is impossible to ignore his deep connection to the sexual aspect of life and how it almost acts as a window to the soul. A literary critic, James E. Miller Jr. stated, “From the very beginning, Whitman wove together themes of "manly love" and "sexual love," with great emphasis on intensely passionate attraction and interaction, as well as bodily contact (touch, embrace) in both” (Miller). In other portions of the poems there are instances of metaphors for various sexual experiences, such as male ejaculation and male to male attraction. These even today are taboo subjects for most ordinary conversation. At the time of publication these were surely new topics being presented to the public and should not be surprising that this writing would spark criticism, yet we can see Whitman establishing these points in his poetry as a way of trying to bring together this aspect of equality and something new to America. Another interesting topic is Whitman’s style of poetry. Other than being a unique free-verse he acts as the speaker during the majority of the poem. Not only does he often take the form of the speaker but often directly inserts himself into the poems. For instance he inserts himself into the poetry when he uses his own name as a character in the poem. Other than this odd third person reference of himself he often takes the first person when describing events and gives his reader an insight into his perspective and soul. Also, Whitman likes to use short stories in order to present his views in a more captivating style. “Twenty-eight young men bathe by the shore” begins one of the main short stories where Whitman uses a short story to provide a point (Whitman 28). It is also one of the more sexual passages of the book but it is one of the numerous random stories that Whitman describes. Not only that, but an obvious signature of Whitman’s poetry is his explicit infatuation with the natural world. There are many detailed descriptions of natural settings and the beauty of all things natural including: I depart as air… I shake my white locks at the runaway sun, I effuse my flesh in eddies and drift it in lacy jags. I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your bootsoles (Whitman 68).
This passage is one of plentiful examples where Whitman is placing himself within nature. The reader can feel his fascination for the world through his extravagant descriptions of all things natural. We see this type of style and structure of nature as a way of bringing light to his Transcendentalism view through the nature, soul and body. In the end Whitman’s Leaves of Grass can be described in many ways. Its form and topics are sporadic yet accurately portray the deep perspectives of the writer. His views on nature, humanity, America, and life in general are strewn across the pages of this poetic masterpiece which has survived early scrutiny to still be relevant today. Understanding the words on the pages is not always easy but there are various interpretations that allow for the reader to deeply ponder the meanings of many aspects of life. Overall reading Leaves of Grass can lead the reader on an exploration from sex to things as complex as life and the idea of immortality. In conclusion, Walt Whitman wrote a story that went beyond the 113 pages of the book and provides a caricature of a complex and creative mind.