Ignoffo The Grass

Ignoffo writes about Whitman’s vision of America democracy or his utopian Dream. According to the author the "grass" in the title is an expressively simple universal image that answers the question about the meaning of life and the destiny of the common man in America. He talks about the “grass” as “an over-returning growth; it dies and grows again in endless cycles. The grass of the present comes from the "leaves" (the leavings) of many past deaths, and will become the compost of many future lives.” In his paper the author describe the “grass” as a symbol of democracy. He explains that is the “most common vegetation of all, and it is very hardy if it is in good soil”, thus, Whitman hoped that the proper soil would be found in the future “amative