Whitman Pre-Civil War and Post-Civil War Analysis
During his influential seventy-three year life, Walt Whitman produced works such as Leaves of Grass, and “Song of Myself”, which were influential in the transition from transcendentalism to realism. Whitman’s evolution was partly caused by the Civil War, being that after the war, the starkness of the situation his beloved country was in is evident in his work. More specifically, the Civil War changes Whitman’s view of Democracy, changing the emphasis from how the peoples’ purpose is to shape the government to how the people are supposed to serve the government from a distance, while maintaining a supportive partnership.
In “For You O Democracy”, Whitman explicitly states that he views democracy …show more content…
The first new philosophy is that Whitman installs in the poem is that the nation goes about its missions without the help of the people. In his previous works, Whitman claims the assignments given to the government are then executed by the people, but now, Whitman depicts a scene where Lincoln, his captain, returns from their trip and approaches the people who are on the shore, meaning they did not take part in this trip. Next, Whitman shows the people interactions with Lincoln while still on the port. In saying “ Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,” shows just how the people are supposed to support the government, solely with praise and celebration (10). In the last stanza, Whitman turns the focus off of the people and looks at the country. While finishing his poem by saying, “That ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,/From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won”, Whitman addresses the fact that the country fought a dangerous war and sacrificed what was necessary in order to win the prize it sought (19-20). Whitman expresses in this poem his views of democracy post-war being that he does not believe the nation and people are as closely tethered
During his influential seventy-three year life, Walt Whitman produced works such as Leaves of Grass, and “Song of Myself”, which were influential in the transition from transcendentalism to realism. Whitman’s evolution was partly caused by the Civil War, being that after the war, the starkness of the situation his beloved country was in is evident in his work. More specifically, the Civil War changes Whitman’s view of Democracy, changing the emphasis from how the peoples’ purpose is to shape the government to how the people are supposed to serve the government from a distance, while maintaining a supportive partnership.
In “For You O Democracy”, Whitman explicitly states that he views democracy …show more content…
The first new philosophy is that Whitman installs in the poem is that the nation goes about its missions without the help of the people. In his previous works, Whitman claims the assignments given to the government are then executed by the people, but now, Whitman depicts a scene where Lincoln, his captain, returns from their trip and approaches the people who are on the shore, meaning they did not take part in this trip. Next, Whitman shows the people interactions with Lincoln while still on the port. In saying “ Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,” shows just how the people are supposed to support the government, solely with praise and celebration (10). In the last stanza, Whitman turns the focus off of the people and looks at the country. While finishing his poem by saying, “That ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,/From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won”, Whitman addresses the fact that the country fought a dangerous war and sacrificed what was necessary in order to win the prize it sought (19-20). Whitman expresses in this poem his views of democracy post-war being that he does not believe the nation and people are as closely tethered