Analysis of Walt Whitman and his poetry - Research Paper Example

of the Essay: An Analysis on Walt Whitman The most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed - Emerson about Leaves of Grass (Kaplan & Justin, 1980) Walt Whitman was born on 1819 near Huntington in New York. Known lovingly as the 'America's World Poet' he lived for 76 years creating some of the most impressive pieces of English literature. Walt Whitman is widely known as the successor to epic poets like Homer, Dante and Shakespeare. Some of his most famous works are "Leaves of Grass", "Starting from Paumanok", "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" and the ever famous "Song of Myself". The poems written by Walt Whitman are influenced by the various political, artistic and personal incidents the poet witnessed in his lifetime. A chronological analysis of his poems based on the years they were written will present us a glimpse on all important events of the American history, the art world and the journey of a curious human being who transformed himself into a matured man. Early life of Walt Whitman Whitman started working as an apprentice to a local printer when he was quite young. Whitman was the second child for his parents Walter Whitman and Louisa. He was taken to Brooklyn at the age of four and literally grew up there for the most part his childhood. He attended school briefly and dropped out to work in odd jobs at the age of eleven. His poems touched all human feelings from love and friendship to death and cherishing the body. Both Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson are considered as the greatest nineteenth century poets. Whitman worked in a series of jobs starting from schoolteacher to being a reporter, printer, a government clerk, nurse and an editor. He travelled throughout the America and was a great fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson later praised him as “American Shakespeare” (Tucker, 1987). It seems that fate had its plan fixed for the poet at a very young age. Hence, it made him start his career related to books and printing at a tender age. Though Whitman attended public school for only six years he was well versed in language. He attributes his mastery of language to his various jobs connected with printing and editing. Whitman started working as a school teacher at the age of nineteen. But, he cannot stay away from books and soon moved to New York to work as a journalist. He enjoyed everything related to art from opera's to theatres. He spent ample time in the huge libraries of New York reading to his full. Whitman started his writing career in his early twenties inspired by the many books he had read (Walt Whitman 1819 o 1892). At first he wrote small poems like “Miracles” and speeches for political parties. In the middle age he started to write deep essays on politics. His mentality transformed into a much philosophical one during the Civil war. Walt Whitman explores many different themes through his poems. What major philosophical scholars like Confucius did using very little language, Walt Whitman tried with his elaborate poems. He tried to capture various theological aspects using unique themes like stream of consciousness, contradiction in human behaviour, submitting to the temptations, paradox and embracing everybody without judgement. The underlying themes in his major poems like “Song of Myself” is to explore the real truth didn't behind the life. Both these poems are a reflection of his life written in his middle age. His hallmark style is using realism in poetry though usage of imagery is common in many places. Walt Whitman is praised as the “Son of Long Island” in the modern days (Current et al, 1971). But, he was often considered as an outcast by his fellow poets as well as most of the publishers during his life time. He was not afraid to write about anything or anybody. He rejected the usage of normal meter and rhyme in his works and switched to writing using a Native American language style. Most of his poems do not have standard versus or stanzas. Influence of Politics Walt Whitman started to write political speeches for Tammany Hall, Democrats during his early 20s. The society controlled the Democratic Party then. His association with the society cost him various problems making him switch jobs in newspapers regularly. He worked in various odd jobs still he was 35. He served as a nurse treating the warriors who fought in the Civil War. He published his first work by himself in 1855. Six more editions of “Leaves of Grass” were published during this lifetime. “Song of Myself”, Walt Whitman's most renowned poem occurred in his very first collection which was published when he was 37. He spent the last 21 years of his life in New Jersey in a house he had purchased. Whitman suffered a stroke as soon as he retired from this voluntary military service. However, he recovered soon and spent the remaining years writing poems as well as political essays. Historic Influence of War in Whitman’s Poetry In the poem “O Captain! My Captain”, the narrator tells about all the riches and fame awaiting them in the homeland to a dead captain (Unger, 1974, p. 347). The poem expresses Walt Whitman's disbelief in war and how those who fought ardently for it cannot enjoy the fruits of the war, no matter how good it is. In another poem “To You” he expresses this anger at someone for staring at him without any particular reason. The poet indirectly blames the world for watching him closely and criticising them without any proper reason in this poem. As a cheerful person Whitman naturally hated war and every aspect about it. Though he was a strong supporter of the democrats, he simply couldn't bring himself to see what good war brings to both the parties. He expressed his concern about the ill effects of war in numerous small poems. In one poem he particularly mentions how a farmer who is not concerned with the war in any way is disturbed by the continuous drumming and unable to live in peace. Whitman was one of the early poets to represent his feelings for the blacks. He believes America will transform into a country without any boundary or discrimination. He considers the whole country a poem for the very reason. He believed that people of his nation will break down all the barriers that separated them one day and start treating every human being with equal dignity. Whatever people thought outgoing or embarrassing was considered normal by him. He never refers to slaves and soldiers as black or white people in his poems. To him they are just people indulging in some sort of work. Whitman's experienced severe trauma when he volunteered to help the wounded soldiers as a nurse during the Civil War. In His poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd”, he talks about clouds darkening the entire land and coffins passing by the streets day and night. He believed death and mourning will pave way for future hope and solace (Magill, 1987, pp 406). Though he generally refers to President Abraham Lincoln’s death through these lines, he considers every soldier he had treated and died in his hand a great patriot and an equivalent of a great leader. Artistic Influence in Whitman’s poems Walt Whitman strongly believed nature has abundant beauty and is the root cause of all goodness in the world. Most of his artistic poems were written when he was quite young when he was aged 20 to 30. He was blessed with a poetic sight which enabled him to enjoy everything from a sweet smell of a flower to the light of the moon. Whitman was a person who enjoyed everything he set his eyes upon. In his poem “Miracles” he simply enjoys walking the streets of Manhattan. Though a booming scholar and ideal theological scholar he never loses his childlike curiosity which makes him admire the beauty in everything present around him. Everything from the sloping roofs to the way leading the beach and the magnificent tree to a good dinner is a miracle for him. It does not take him some gimmicks or creating an unbelievable act to enjoy and wonder of nature. He finds happiness and wonders at the beauty and magnificence of small things surrounding him. Every hour and space is a continuing line of miracle for him. According to Whitman nature depicts the true nature or true soul of human beings. Nature has the capability to bring out the beauty in humanity as well as control it and bring out the brutal side of the humans. The American Romantic movement was largely influenced by these aspects of nature explained by Whitman. O powerful, western, fallen star! O shades of night! O moody, tearful night! O great star disappear’d! O the black murk that hides the star! O cruel hands that hold me powerless! O helpless soul of me! O harsh surrounding cloud, that will not free my soul! This poem illustrates the belief Whitman had over nature. It brings out the darker side of the Romantic writer. The sun falls in the West and the human soul is painted by the creeping darkness. Solitude, bitterness and other dark habits are prevalent in his works widely. Whitman uses darkness as an exploration of one's own self and away to journey into oneself to find the true colour of the soul. Having studied the mocking-bird's tones and the flight of the mountain-hawk, And heard at dawn the unrivall'd one, the hermit thrush from the swamp-cedars, Solitary, singing in the West, I strike up for a New World.  Victory, union, faith, identity, time, The indissoluble compacts, riches, mystery, Eternal progress, the kosmos, and the modern reports. This then is life, (Leaves of Grass) In this poem a man, probably the poet himself has spent considerable time in solitude exploring a swamp. People do not usually live there owing to its darker nature. He used that solitude it to enlighten himself with knowledge about various plants and animals. The man could not abandon this sense of identity and pride in gaining knowledge, even though he does not have anybody to prove himself to. This eternal progress is looked upon as both the key to human progress, as well as the root cause of all evils of humankind. The quest to continuous progress leads to war and untold destruction in one hand and it leads to steady progress on the other hand. Whitman is sure that man left alone will be good. But it is the culture and the influence of civilisation, which makes them team up with one group or another and indulge in immoral as they aim to prove themselves superior to others. Whitman strongly agrees that art represents the creation or creativity hidden inside the man. Nature inspires man to create something and so without each other nothing can be achieved. Man, nature and art are all assembled together and it might take and a little separation from everything to understand this. The straying thence, the separation long, but now the wandering done, The journey done, the journeyman come home, And man and art with Nature fused again. German writer Herman Bruetts once said Whitman's verses sound like "surge and thunder". Whitman was often criticized by others for exploring the body too much and representing too much sexuality in his works. His works struck the literary fans like a real thunder. Literacy filled with epic poems got a new splash of style through Whitman's work. For Whitman common man was the essence of all feelings. He did not want to construct another poem praising Achilles or Aeneas. He wanted his poetry to be for 'Everyman' a simple vagabond, a man with conscience, he does not indulge in any heroic acts. His character is to accept everybody as they are instead of trying to help them or mould them into perfect begins. Talking about his famous works like "Leaves of Grass" and "Song of Myself" Whitman mentioned they represent both the writer, a magnified form of the writer and the reader also to a certain extent. As Whitman himself said "They're as much yours as mine", "somehow you are also Walt Whitman". Whitman usually values soul and body equally as he considers soul as the storehouse of everyone’s most intimate self. But, he deals with body in most of his poems as it is easy to relate with one identity as well as other material possessions. Whitman was born in a time where science started to influence people more than religion. Theology widely used in most of the previous literature works prior to Whitman's time ignored body, giving ample importance to the soul. It stresses keeping the soul pure is the only way to see God. In Whitman's time science started to give ample importance to body as it is the basis of existence. Whitman was sort of balancer who gives equal importance to both the soul and the body though body seems to be an easy object to handle for him. Whitman often views body as a vessel which holds the soul. The body gains importance in the sense that its cherishment is important to nurture the soul existing inside it. Political Influence As a poet Whitman was keen on observing and talking about the people around him rather than reading and concentrating on God or other non-existent heroes. He was keenly interested in politics and many of his poems represented major changes in the politics which happened during his time like the raise of democracy, the civil war and death of Lincoln. Walt Whitman praises democracy in most of his poems. He was the first man to create a sombre styled poem, mourning the death of President Abraham Lincoln. Whitman places the death of the President equal to the death of any man who had died in action to restore democracy. The poet states such actions of a person are much more important than creation of major arts as it paves way for a better living of the future generations when art simply entertains people. The poet wanted people to see and do the righteous things, even though death came to them just like that happen to Lincoln. I repeat it—the grand deaths of the race—the dramatic deaths of every nationality—are its most important inheritance-value—in some respects beyond its literature and art Walt Whitman became the most influential poet of his times. Not because he was the master of the language and created podiums, which will fetch him eternal fame. He was very influential because he was able to change the way several people looked at their life. He wanted every son and daughter of America to be a free citizen. He was one of the early poets to give the oppressed people what they were looking for, the hope and confirmation that everybody was equal and everything was going to be all right. His new style of writing went a long way in influencing them and inspiring them. A different style of Romanticism writing used by Whitman is hailed as America's first writing style till date (The American Romantic Movement). He was more and more a revolutionary than being simply a poet or a political writer Analysis on “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman “Song of Myself” is one of Walt Whitman's most renowned works. It got published way back in 1855 in his collection "Leaves of Grass". But, it got the name "Song of Myself" only in 1881. The poem got published under the name "Poem of Walt Whitman, An American" in the first edition got renamed simply into "Walt Whitman" in the following editions. It was printed under the title "Song of Myself" only in 1881. Analyzing the poem in detail gives us a clear insight about the style and theme used by the poet. Known by many critics as an American epic, the poem explores the American lifestyle like no other literary piece. The poem's finishing lines became iconic. Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you. The lyric of the song simply contemplates the poet watching his own thoughts. The first part of the poem states the poet is embarking on a journey within himself. He says he is 37 years old and is in perfect health. The poem frequently uses "catalogues" of long lists to show his feelings. Whitman starts by identifying all parts of himself with the readers. He hopes he does not cease till his life ends and want to leave behind all the distinctions in humanity behind him. He also admits deep down in his heart he will still remember them even though he looks forward for an equal world. In the second stanza he describes a house filled with shelves of perfumes. He yearns to go back to the woods as he does not want to get intoxicated by all the sweet perfumes. He uses the perfumes as a metaphor for all the new age discoveries, his changing life status and the societal expectations from him. He just refuses to get carried away by all this and wants to stay the same old person without any disguise who lived in the simple woods. "Anaphora" usage is also widespread in the poem. Several the lines begin with repetitive words especially in the second stanza like 'I', 'The', 'Have' and 'You'. The poet used anaphora to create a distinct rhyming instead of using similes like all the poets. Whitman borrows various distinct styles and forms all over the poetry. He did not divide the poem into sections originally. He simply used small land big stanzas each centring on a certain vignette. Whitman does not use regular meter like other poets of his age too. But, he was an expert in using rhythm. These lines found in the second stanza give stress to traditional beats and rhyming. Hous-es and rooms are full of per-fumes He encounters his soul and asks the mankind exploring the meaning of poems to stop discussions and look inside them to understand the "origin of all poems". He tells them not to look at life through Whitman's eye but their own. In the sixth and the most important part of the poem, a child asks him "what is the grass?" The poet feels it is everything. He says “I do not know what it is anymore than he.” Exploring what is grass the poet looks upon it as the regeneration of nature. He considers grass as the common link between thousands of people in the US. He says it grew from the graves of thousands of people dead and buried. The grass gives him the hope that all those lost are alive somewhere else in a different form. He understands "All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses". Again he uses grass as a metaphor for life. The blab of the pave . . . . the tires and carts and sluff of boot-soles and talk of the prom-en-ad-ers He gives immense stress to rhyming and beats in these verses. These lines found in the eighth section of the poem give us a feeling of hearing a hypnotic chant with very short but random beats. In the seventh section of the poem he continues to explore himself admitting his various follies. I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles. Whitman uses elaborate details in all of his verses. The poem continues with many more sections describing the famous parable of twenty-eight young men taking a bath on a sea shore. He comments an unseen hand pass over their bodies, but they are too ignorant to feel it. Throughout the poem he describes various people from the butcher boy, Negro whom he describes as a 'picturesque giant'. In the twenty fifth section of the poem, he talks about the importance of speech and the need to express himself and his experiences. The final note of the poem shows the authors recognizing him in alignment with the cosmos and realizing he is but a part of the grandeur that is life and the universe. The beauty of Whitman’s works lies in his elaborate details and the ‘free verse’ style adopted in many places. “Song of Myself” is undoubtedly one of the greatest philosophical works in English literature. Whitman believed democracy would give the reason for mankind to attain new worldly heights and Equality. He believed it was necessary for the well-being of all mankind and to preserve the individuality of every person in the world. Conclusion Whitman's poetry has been translated into several languages in the modern era. Over 2000 poems written by Whitman are preserved now. Several writers like Hart Crane, arms, Wallace Stevens, Allen Ginsberg and Carlos Williams bed all influenced by Whitman's poetry and his treatment of sexuality in particular. Whitman became an epic poet simply because he refused to write about epics and chose the common man as his subject and did a great job exploring his individual self through the various stages of life. Whitman’s poems continue to inspire thousands of people all over the world. His works are compared to that of doyens like Shakespeare. References 1. Current, Richard N., Freidel, Frank &Williams, T. Harry. American History: A Survey. 6th ed. Vol.2. New York: Knopf. 1971.292-293. 2. Kaplan, Justin. Walt Whitman: A Life. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1980. 11. 3. Magill, Frank N. Magill's Critical Survey of Poetry. Ed. Englewood Cliffs, 1987. 4. Tucker, Martin. “The Mid Nineteenth Century to Edwardianism”. Moulton's Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors. Volume 4. Chelsea House Pub. 1987. 247. 5. “The American Romantic Movement”. Montanaacademy.com. 10 April 2013. 6. Unger, Leonard ed. American Writers: A Collection of Literary Biographies. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1974. 7. Walt Whitman 1819 o 1892. Poetry Foundation. 10 April 2013. Read More