A Protest to Societal Norms, A Love Story : A Queer Theory Analysis of “We Two Boys Together Clinging” by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman 's “We Two Boys Together Clinging” poem was one the earliest expressions of the queer theory. Whitman through his writing was able give a voice to a people who had not yet had one. Whitman used bold and colorful language to express his ideas of sexuality and gender. A new critical reading of Whitman’s “We Two Boys Together Clinging” showcases the inner details of a homosexual relationship in a time where being gay was seen as a sin against god. With that, Whitman was able to use this poem to show that a relationship filled with love is the same no matter if it’s homo or heterosexual. The poem begins with the speaker saying: “ We are too boys together clinging”(1). I can infer that the speaker is a man talking about the relationship he shares with another man. Whitman identified as “gay” or “bisexual” he could very well be talking about a relationship he shared with someone. In the next line Whitman tries to show how deeply interconnected the speaker was with this other boy : “One the other never leaving” (2) These two boys shared a strong love for each other so much that they never wanted to be apart. The purpose of these …show more content…
The speaker love between him and his boy is a protest against the norms of the common sexuality that was ingrained in Whitman’s society: “... Arm’d and fearless, eating, drinking, sleeping, loving…” (5). The speaker and his lover are out and about with no cares to who looks at them. They are doing all the normal things couples would do, but due to the fact they are both men in a proud relationship they have to be armed and fearless. Being “gay” or “homosexual” was seen more than a sin, it was seen a disease. Homosexuality was seen as a problem that needed to be fixed and even a crime in some parts of this great land we call
Walt Whitman 's “We Two Boys Together Clinging” poem was one the earliest expressions of the queer theory. Whitman through his writing was able give a voice to a people who had not yet had one. Whitman used bold and colorful language to express his ideas of sexuality and gender. A new critical reading of Whitman’s “We Two Boys Together Clinging” showcases the inner details of a homosexual relationship in a time where being gay was seen as a sin against god. With that, Whitman was able to use this poem to show that a relationship filled with love is the same no matter if it’s homo or heterosexual. The poem begins with the speaker saying: “ We are too boys together clinging”(1). I can infer that the speaker is a man talking about the relationship he shares with another man. Whitman identified as “gay” or “bisexual” he could very well be talking about a relationship he shared with someone. In the next line Whitman tries to show how deeply interconnected the speaker was with this other boy : “One the other never leaving” (2) These two boys shared a strong love for each other so much that they never wanted to be apart. The purpose of these …show more content…
The speaker love between him and his boy is a protest against the norms of the common sexuality that was ingrained in Whitman’s society: “... Arm’d and fearless, eating, drinking, sleeping, loving…” (5). The speaker and his lover are out and about with no cares to who looks at them. They are doing all the normal things couples would do, but due to the fact they are both men in a proud relationship they have to be armed and fearless. Being “gay” or “homosexual” was seen more than a sin, it was seen a disease. Homosexuality was seen as a problem that needed to be fixed and even a crime in some parts of this great land we call