THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 1. The True Nature of Walt Whitman. Megan R. Foltz. Grant County High School

Transcription

1 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 1 The True Nature of Walt Whitman Megan R. Foltz Grant County High School

2 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 2 Abstract Walt Whitman is a famous American poet known for his writing of America and of nature. He had an evident love for American nature and his poetry includes a lot of vivid imagery describing nature as wondrous. So, how does Walt Whitman s vivid imagery in his poetry express his pride and admiration for American nature? In order to answer this question there is an analysis of the imagery incorporated into five of Whitman s poems from his book of poetry, Leaves of Grass along with support from outside sources. There is an in- depth analysis of O Magnet- South, A Farm Picture, I Hear America Singing, Me Imperturbe, and Miracles along with explanations of how each contains imagery supporting the proposed question. It is concluded that through positive description Whitman uses his vivid imagery to portray nature as magnificent and to highlight its features giving it appeal. This shows his love for nature and his pride in the natural outdoors of America.

3 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 3 The name Walt Whitman runs parallel with names such as: Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickenson, and Robert Frost, they are all some of the greatest poets to ever live. There is no doubt that Walt Whitman is among this list of famous American poets. Whitman s fame stems from being one of the greatest to write about love of nature and appreciation of American soil. I propose the question: How does Walt Whitman s vivid imagery in his poetry express his pride and admiration for American nature? To do this, I will analyze numerous works by Whitman, including: O Magnet- South, A Farm Picture, I Hear America Singing, Me Imperturbe, and Miracles. The interpretations of these poems verify that Whitman admired nature and respected the imagery to the point of obsession. I will evaluate how the imagery in his poems supports his affection for the outdoors and proves his respect of America. The poem O Magnet- South by Walt Whitman employs multiple counts of vivid imagery that display Whitman s fondness of American nature. His captivated descriptions of nature show his amazement and reveal the pride he feels being from such a majestic land as America. Whitman is a true American, he lived in Brooklyn and Long Island along with his eight other siblings from the 1820s- 1830s ( Walt Whitman, 2013). Whitman writes (1855), O the cotton plant! The growing fields of rice, sugar hemp! The cactus guarded with thorns, the laurel- tree with large white flowers (p. 392), although Whitman is describing the South in this excerpt and not New York, he is still painting a spectacular picture through imagery. He begins with an apostrophe addressing the cotton plant and then goes on to paint a glowing picture of the fields of the south and the harvest within them. The way in which Whitman uses imagery to convey the south makes it clear he is awe- struck by it. He uses descriptive words such as: guarded, large, and white to show the reality of nature. He addresses the outdoors in a

4 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 4 way that shows a longing and his memorization of America proves how dear it is to him. Whitman admires the nature of America and believes that it is something to be admired and given respect which is why he writes about it with such great admiration. He wants people to see the beauty in nature that he does. This is also supported in another line from O Magnet- South, which reads, A Kentucky corn- field, the tall, graceful, long leav d corn, slender, flapping bright green, with tassels, with beautiful ears each well- sheath d in husk (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 392). Whitman incorporates colors as well as encouraging adjectives in order to create optimistic imagery of Kentucky corn. He wants his reader to see the Kentucky fields in their mind and admire them as much as he does, seeing them as beautiful and graceful. Whitman uses imagery to personify the corn because he knows how vital corn is. Corn is food grown from nature which Whitman knows is a beautiful thing; he reveals the greatness of this because he knows people should be grateful for the prosperous things nature provides us with. He wants people to respect nature for its beauty and for all that is does for us. Peter Carlson writes, Whitman announced that his poems speak for America (2009). Whitman clearly had great patriotism and he wanted to show the true beauty of America s nature. He wanted his readers to be able to envision the beauty while reading his poems. The way in which he describes the nature portrays that he feels adoration towards it. He also wanted everyone to give nature the respect it deserves because he knew that humans would not survive without nature. He did not want others taking it for granted or abusing the substances he loved. Whitman s poem, A Farm Picture truly describes life in the American country. It is a short and simple poem, but it is one with great imagery that serves to make the reader feel as if they are on a real farm. The poem says, Through the ample open door of the peaceful country

5 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 5 barn, A sunlit pasture field with cattle and horses feeding, And haze and vista, and the far horizon fading away (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 233). This entire poem is an example of imagery. It describes what you see as you look off into each direction while standing on a farm. Countless describing words are used and they all paint a stunning picture. Whitman describes the farm as glorious ; while leaving out all negative accounts and only focuses on the beauty to appeal to his readers. He does not see the cruelness of nature because he only admires it. He enjoys being submerged in the outdoors and being surrounded by natural beauty. The way he describes the farm in this poem proves his high regards for nature. You can imagine the farm and imagine his looking around in wonder and gazing upon the land with pride and adoration because of his use of vivid imagery. In describing the farm he also describes his love for its surroundings. Whitman wants to challenge the stereotypical views of farm. To him, a farm is not some place with smelly animals, mud, and weeds; instead it is a beautiful place filled with peace and meant for relaxation and prosperity. As a man who has experienced city life and the country Whitman had chosen his sanctuary and he wants to protect it by revealing its good qualities. I Hear America Singing is a renowned poem by Walt Whitman. It describes numerous accounts of the typical American worker throughout the day and it utilizes imagery in order to depict the American lifestyle. Whitman was very patriotic and loyal to America, which is supported by his volunteering in hospitals during the civil war ( Walt Whitman, 2013). In this poem Whitman describes the life of a simple, American, working class man, The wood- cutter s song, the ploughboy s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermissions or at sundown (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 9). He goes on to give many more accounts of songs sung by

6 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 6 carpenters to shoemakers. Each working citizen is singing the song of freedom and of working to make a living, something Whitman is familiar with, being that he quit school when he was twelve to learn how to be a printer ( Walt Whitman, 2013). Whitman uses imagery in this poem to give his reader an idea of what work is like. He describes what each man is doing and gives specifics of certain jobs. He wants to explain what life in America is like because he wants people to respect the hard work this country is founded on. Whitman is proud of America and he wants other to be as well, he wants to show the hardships but also reveal the integrity that comes with them. As Jane Hirshfield says, Any three pages of Whitman s poetry would offer all the sense anyone needs of what is American in American poetry of its gestures, its values, its characteristics, and its source (2011). This connects to nature because what we do is not artificial, but natural, and therefore every bit as divine as the rivers, rocks, or trees (Robert Sickels, 2000). Nature is America s source. This poem exemplifies Whitman s obvious pride in America, but also in American nature because Whitman considers humans to be one with nature. He respects the working man and how people like wood- cutters work alongside nature. He connects the two and shows his love for both. He illustrates life in America and by doing so he also describes the nature because he talks about how each of these men uses nature as a resource for their job. He proves his idea that without nature we are nothing, and that America is built on nature and hard work. Whitman does this in order to show his admiration and to call on others for the same support. In Whitman s poem, Me Imperturbe, he incorporates descriptions of American land and natural disasters as well as phenomenon in order to connect himself with the natural world. This not only displays his love for nature, but also his preference to be in the harsh turmoil

7 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 7 nature imposes rather than in calm urban life. Whitman writes, standing at ease in Nature, Master of all or mistress of all, aplomb in the midst of irrational things (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 8). This line exemplifies the comfort Whitman feels in nature. He capitalizes the word nature to give it emphasis and to prove it is the main subject. Nature is his comfort zone. Nature is where he is most relaxed and feels most at home. He also explains his feelings of acceptance in nature by talking about the irrational. He says how even though nature can make no sense whatsoever sometimes, he still loves it and copes with it because of his connection, which shows his dedication. It also implies that Whitman had such a great affection for nature because he felt like an outcast also; he connected with nature because he sympathized with it. Another example is, To confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, re- buffs, as the trees and animals do Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 8). The imagery comes more into play in this example as he describes numerous occurrences in nature, most of which are negative, but he gives them a positive connotation. This supports the idea that Whitman has pride and admiration for America s nature because it shows how even in the worst of circumstances he enjoys nature. Whitman speaks of terrible storms, treacherous accidents, and painful hunger that animals endure living in nature, but he implies that he admires this and that he wants to experience these hardships. Just like how Whitman respects the American working class for their difficult labor he admires nature for its tough endurance and will to persevere even in disasters. This shows his undying love for the outdoors and proves his wonder for nature and the creatures that inhabit it. Whitman wants other to experience these things and see the wonder and good in natural disasters that are constantly perceived as horrific. Whitman sees the necessity and

8 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 8 the growth they bring after and he wants others to admire that and understand the reasons why nature seems to do cruel things because in reality it is for the common good. Finally, Whitman s poem Miracles illustrates American nature as a stunning phenomenon which shows Whitman s devotion and delight toward it. He says, Or watch honey- bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 326), Whitman classifies this event to be a miracle. He uses imagery of a summer afternoon and of analyzing one simple and often taken for granted insect to describe a miracle. He takes something so simple, a picture often viewed by many, but turns it into a marvel. He forces the reader to view it as something brilliant because that is how he sees it. He wants people to slow down and think about how incredible just seeing a bee in nature is. Whitman knows that God allows nature to create many miracles and he wants people to see them as the miracles they are and to appreciate them. The fact that he can find something of nature that is so simplistic to be so intriguing shows his admiration for the outdoors. He also writes about the moon, Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring (Walt Whitman, 1855, p. 326). This example incorporates multiple elements of nature: the moon, the phases of the moon, and seasons. Whitman is sure to give these specifics and to include vivid imagery because nature is something he is passionate about. He makes this clear as he defines the simple curve of the moon as a sensation. Everything Whitman views in nature he finds to be splendid. He is constantly in awe as you can conclude from his descriptions of nature in this poem. Each miracle has something to do with nature and the natural world. The growing of food, our shelter, the elements we brave, the weather we live in are all components of nature and they are all miracles. Nature is powerful, extremely powerful and Whitman respects nature s power.

9 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 9 He wants other to respect it also for their good and to preserve the pureness of his beloved outdoors. This poem provides examples of imagery that restate Whitman s undying love and pride for American nature and life s little miracles that most of us would take for granted because Whitman wants to warn us not to miss out. After analysis of each of these poems, it is evident that Whitman s use of vivid imagery is used to show his pride and admiration for American nature. In O Magnet- South he gives glorious accounts of nature. In A Farm Picture he makes the reader see what it is like to be in a place surrounded by natural beauty. In I Hear America Singing he shows what it is like to be a true American and proves how much we rely on nature. In Me Imperturbe he demonstrates how there is beauty even in the harshest of natural conditions. Then in Miracles he writes about how nature is superlative and something to admire. Each poem provides examples of imagery that personify nature and bring out its most radiant of characteristics, which shows Whitman s care for the natural world. They also show respect for nature and demonstrate how Whitman wanted to show others the importance of respecting nature s true beauty and prosperity. Nature is vital for humans and Whitman new that, for that reason he was one with nature.

10 THE TRUE NATURE OF WALT WHITMAN 10 References Carlson, P. (2009). Thoreau & Whitman. American History, 44(2), 26. Sickels, R. C. (2000). Whitman's song of myself. Explicator, 59(1), 19. Hirshfield, J. (2011). What is American in modern American poetry? A primer with poems. World Literature Today, 85(5), 45. Academy of American Poets. (2013). Walt Whitman Retrieved from Whitman, W. (2000). Leaves of Grass. New York: New American Library. (Original work published 1855).