Walt Whitman the poet of American inclusion Walt Whitman used his poems as a way of Illustrating how he saw the perfect utopia that could be the “new world’ If only all of the diverse people that made up the American nation could come together and embrace one another. Whitman poems have a way of connecting people with their neighbors who may have been geographically close but where culturally, economically and ethnically worlds apart. In many ways Whitman is not so different from more modern authors like Alex Haley ho wrote the book “Roots” or Arthur Laureate the author of West side Story.
Both of these authors are examples of writers who used their craft to bring a new view to the people of their time through art. “Whitman constructed an inclusive, all-embracing identity that could, as he characterized it, “contain multitudes. ” American Passages – Unit 5. Masculine Heroes: Authors. ” American Passages – unit 5. Masculine Heroes From the readings it Is easy to see that Whitman was a poet of democracy. He saw our country In state of transformation. Walt Whitman was criticized by many for the expression of his views, however he showed his reader’s his vision for unity.
Whitman used his poems to capture many things that everyone could relate with such as national Identity, professions, romance and sex. “Many literary critics were shocked by Whitman convention-defying style, reviewing the work as “reckless and indecent” and “a mass of stupid filth. ” American Passages – unit 5. Masculine Heroes: Authors. ” American Passages – unit 5. Masculine Heroes. These are topics that everyone is unconnected to regardless of age, gender race or class. He wrote poems that in many ways could be considered prophetic of America.
Whitman poetry and work during the civil war serving a nurse to soldiers shows his true compassion for his fellow Americans, The similarities between “Song of Myself” and the Sermon on the Mount are quite apparent. In that poem he speaks of washing the feet of the fugitive slave Is similar to that of Chrism’s washing the feet of the apostles. In the video it Is discussed that that many of the frontiersmen where directed by “Manifest Destiny the belief hat American settlers were destined by God to expand throughout and conquer the new world.
Walt Whitman obviously being a spiritual man Whitman encouraged all Americans to be heroes “Whitman is a boomer for expansion, he would like the whole world to be America not by conquest, not by military conquest, by a kind of spiritual conquest. ” Richard Slotting, professor of American studies at Wesleyan University. American culture is now much more open to new ideas and possibilities. Whitman helped to shape that that America for us without regard for his own petition or prosperity.
He goes into great detail about things that otherwise would go unnoticed. He does this so the reader can the impact that something small could cause. In the video It Is stated that Whitman hinted at acceptance of homosexuality, of his respect for prostitutes and compassion for slaves.