Walt Whitman

Early Life and Career

Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, Long Island, New York. He was the second of
nine children born to Walter and Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, of English and Dutch descent. To
distinguish him from his father, he was nicknamed "Walt." Whitman’s early life was marked by economic
hardships and frequent relocations, as his family struggled with financial instability. He looked back on
his childhood as restless and unhappy, shaped by these struggles.

At the age of 11, Whitman ended his formal schooling to assist his family financially. He started working
as an office boy for two lawyers and later was an apprentice for the Long Island Patriot, a weekly
newspaper. During this time, he learned the basics of printing and typesetting, and he may have written
"sentimental bits" of filler material for occasional issues. Over the next few years, he worked for various
printers, developing his skills in the publishing trade. Despite his family’s moved back to West Hills in
1834, Whitman remained in Brooklyn and took a job at the Long-Island Star, where he became a regular
visitor to the library, joined a debating society, attended theater performances, and anonymously
published early poetry.

By 1835, Whitman moved to New York City to work as a compositor, though later he could not recall the
specifics of his employment. He attempted to find further work but had difficulty, in part due to a severe
fire in the printing and publishing district, and the economic downturn leading to the Panic of 1837.

In 1838, Whitman founded his own newspaper, The Long-Islander, in Huntington, New York. He acted as
its editor, printer, publisher, and distributor, but sold the paper after just ten months, leaving no
surviving copies. After another brief attempt at teaching, he returned to New York City in 1841 and
worked with several newspapers, including editing the New York Aurora and later the Brooklyn Eagle. His
tenure at the Brooklyn Eagle deepened his appreciation for Italian opera, particularly the works of Bellini,
Donizetti, and Verdi, which he credited as a major influence on his poetic free verse style in Leaves of
Grass.

Whitman’s time at the Brooklyn Eagle ended in 1848 due to political disagreements with the newspaper’s
owner. He supported the Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories
—a stance reflecting his democratic ideals.

Throughout the 1840s and 1850s, Whitman wrote freelance fiction and poetry. He serialized a novel, Life
and Adventures of Jack Engle, in 1852 and later published a self-help guide, Manly Health and Training,
under the pseudonym Mose Velsor in 1858. This eccentric 47,000-word work advocated for an active
lifestyle, beards, cold baths, and a meat-heavy diet. Critics today view it as quirky and distinctive within
the context of Whitman’s broader literary achievements.

Poetry

After striving for conventional success, Whitman decided to dedicate himself to poetry. the emergence of
Whitman, American poetry witnessed a radical departure. He broke away from the established norms,
creating a uniquely American poetic voice characterized by free verse, unconventional themes, and a
celebration of the common man. Whitman’s work marked a shift towards a more democratic, expansive,
and distinctly American poetic tradition that celebrated the nation’s diversity, individualism, and
emerging identity. This departure from the established forms laid the groundwork for subsequent
generations of American poets to experiment with form, content, and expression, paving the way for a
more inclusive and innovative approach to poetic art

In June 1855, Whitman self-published the first edition of Leaves of Grass, printing 795 copies at his own
expense using a local print shop during downtime. The book’s title page bore no author’s name, but
within its prose and poetry, Whitman introduced himself boldly as "Walt Whitman, an American, one of
the roughs, a kosmos." The volume included an 827-line prose preface and 12 untitled poems, with "Song
of Myself" being the longest. Leaves of Grass immediately challenged established poetic conventions
through its candid exploration of the human body, sensuality, and everyday life.

Upon publication, Leaves of Grass received mixed reactions. The most significant endorsement came from
Ralph Waldo Emerson, who praised it as "the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America
has yet contributed." Encouraged by this, Whitman even embossed a quote from Emerson’s letter on the
spine of the second edition—an early example of modern book marketing. However, not all critics were
as welcoming. Some found the work obscene due to its frank discussion of the body and sexuality.
Geologist Peter Lesley dismissed it as "trashy, profane & obscene," while others criticized its lack of
structure and traditional poetic form.

His poetry was both revolutionary and controversial, sparking admiration as well as harsh criticism. His
rejection of traditional rhyme and meter was a major point of contention, with critics dismissing his work
as chaotic and formless. The bold inclusion of sensual themes and overt references to the human body
further fueled conservative backlash, as many saw his work as vulgar and inappropriate. Some critics
viewed his celebration of democracy and the common man as lacking the intellectual depth expected of
serious poetry.

Despite this criticism, Whitman’s poetry displayed a remarkable breadth of vocabulary and thematic
exploration. His work drew from a wide range of disciplines, reflecting his multidimensional approach to
poetry. He revised and expanded Leaves of Grass multiple times throughout his life, with new editions
appearing in 1856, 1860, 1867, and several more times before his final "Deathbed Edition" in 1892. Each
edition added new poems and refined Whitman’s ideas, making the book a lifelong artistic project.

Leaves of Grass ultimately transformed American poetry, inspiring future generations with its innovative
form and bold themes. Whitman’s celebration of democracy, nature, and human experience established
him as the "poet of America", and his work continues to be studied and admired worldwide.

Civil War

Walt Whitman's life and poetry were profoundly impacted by the American Civil War (1861-1865). While
he didn't serve as a soldier, his experiences during the war became a central point in his life and heavily
influenced his writing. His younger brother, George, enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 and began
sending vivid accounts from the front lines. A misunderstanding regarding George’s safety prompted
Whitman to travel south in December 1862, where he found his brother alive but witnessed the grim
realities of war, including wounded soldiers and amputations. This profoundly affected Whitman, leading
him to relocate to Washington, D.C., with the intent of staying permanently. Whitman balanced part-time
work at the army paymaster’s office with volunteering as a nurse in army hospitals. His experiences
caring for sick and wounded soldiers inspired writings such as "The Great Army of the Sick" (1863) and
Memoranda During the War (1875).

The Whitman family faced hardships in 1864, including George’s capture by Confederate forces, the death
of another brother, Andrew Jackson, from tuberculosis, and Jesse’s commitment to a mental asylum.
Despite these challenges, Whitman secured a better-paying clerkship in the Bureau of Indian Affairs in
early 1865, thanks to his friend William Douglas O’Connor. He published Drum-Taps, a collection of Civil
War-inspired poetry, later that year. However, Whitman’s tenure at the Bureau ended when James
Harlan, the new Secretary of the Interior, dismissed him—likely due to moral objections to Leaves of
Grass. O’Connor defended Whitman by publishing The Good Gray Poet, which elevated Whitman’s public
image and increased his popularity.

Whitman’s poetry gained recognition beyond the United States, particularly with the 1868 English
publication of Poems of Walt Whitman, edited by William Michael Rossetti. This edition helped establish
his international reputation, supported by endorsements from figures like Anne Gilchrist. Whitman
continued revising Leaves of Grass, releasing editions in 1867 and 1871, while balancing his government
work and personal commitments

O Captain! My Captain!

In 1865, Walt Whitman’s poem “O Captain! My Captain!” appeared in his collection Leaves of Grass,
receiving both acclaim and criticism. Whitman wrote the poem as a heartfelt tribute to President
Abraham Lincoln, whose assassination on April 14, 1865, deeply impacted him. While the Civil War’s
conclusion brought Whitman satisfaction, Lincoln’s tragic death overshadowed the victory. Whitman
admired Lincoln’s leadership during the war and his commitment to the emancipation of enslaved
African Americans. This admiration and grief fueled “O Captain! My Captain!”, which became Whitman’s
most recited and celebrated poem.

The poem metaphorically casts Lincoln as the captain of a ship navigating rough seas, symbolizing his
leadership through the challenges of the Civil War. The imagery of the ship represents the nation’s
struggle and Lincoln’s accomplishments as he guided it toward safety and resolution.

Whitman honored Lincoln’s memory by delivering annual memorial lectures, concluding with recitations
of “O Captain! My Captain!”, the final one occurring in 1890, two years before Whitman’s death. The
poem’s combination of historical imagery, emotional depth, and universal themes solidified its status as
one of Whitman’s most iconic works

Poem characterized by its rhyme and nearly regular meter. Composed of three stanzas, each consisting of
eight lines, the poem adheres to a structured rhyme scheme. This showcases Whitman employing a
disciplined poetic form. The poem is fundamentally an elegy, a literary form designed to express grief and
sorrow for the loss of a specific individual.
The poem explores several significant themes:

 Mourning and Grief: This is the most obvious and central theme. The entire poem is an expression of
deep sorrow and lamentation over the loss of a beloved leader. The speaker repeatedly cries out in
anguish, struggling to reconcile the joy of victory with the pain of the Captain's death.
 Loss of a Leader: The poem uses the metaphor of a ship returning from a victorious voyage to represent
the United States after the Civil War. The Captain symbolizes Lincoln, the leader who guided the nation
through its most turbulent period. His death, just as the ship reaches harbor, signifies the tragic loss of
leadership at a crucial moment of triumph.
 The Price of Victory: While the nation rejoices at the end of the war, the poem juxtaposes this public
celebration with the private grief of those who recognized the immense contribution and sacrifice of
Lincoln. It hints at the idea that even in victory, there is a cost, and in this case, the cost was the life of
the leader who made it possible.
 Patriotism and National Identity: The poem reflects a strong sense of patriotism and the nation's
collective identity. Lincoln is presented as a figure who embodied the hopes and aspirations of the
nation, and his death is felt as a profound loss for the entire country. The "prize we sought is won" refers
to the preservation of the Union, highlighting the importance of national unity.
 The Irony of Triumph and Tragedy: The poem is steeped in irony. The joyous bells and celebrating
crowds stand in stark contrast to the "dead and cold" Captain on the deck. This juxtaposition emphasizes
the tragic timing of Lincoln's assassination, occurring at the very moment of national triumph.
 Respect and Admiration: The speaker expresses deep respect and admiration for the Captain,
acknowledging his strength, courage, and the immense responsibility he carried. The repeated address of
"O Captain! my Captain!" conveys a personal connection and profound respect.

Poetic Style and Innovations

1. Free Verse

Whitman is often credited as a pioneer of free verse, poetry that lacks a regular meter or rhyme scheme.
Instead of following rigid poetic structures, he used natural rhythms and cadences inspired by speech
patterns and Biblical prose. This innovation gave his poetry a spontaneous, organic flow, allowing it to
capture the energy and diversity of American life.

2. Expansive and Long Lines

Whitman’s poetry often features long, flowing lines, mirroring the vastness of America and the boundless
spirit of humanity. These lines were inspired by the rhythms of epic poetry and Biblical verse, creating a
sense of grandeur and inclusivity. His famous poem Song of Myself exemplifies this technique:

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,

3. Cataloging and Lists

The carpenter singing as he measures his plank or beam,

4. Repetition and Parallelism

He used repetition and parallel structure to create a musical, chant-like quality in his poetry. This
technique enhances emphasis and makes his verses memorable and powerful.

5. Symbolism and Imagery

Whitman infused his poetry with powerful natural imagery and symbolism. The grass in Leaves of Grass
represents common humanity and the cycle of life. The body and soul are recurring symbols, portraying a
holistic view of existence.

6. Celebration of the Body and Sensuality

Unlike his predecessors, Whitman openly celebrated the human body, physicality, and sexuality. His
frank discussions of these themes, especially in Calamus and Children of Adam, were considered
scandalous in his time but contributed to modern explorations of identity and love.

7. Emphasis on Democracy and the Common Man

Whitman’s poetry reflects democratic ideals, embracing equality and inclusivity. He saw poetry as a
means to unite people, regardless of race, class, or profession. His focus on the "common man" set him
apart from elitist literary traditions

Legacy

Whitman’s poetic innovations influenced modernist poets like Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Allen Ginsberg.
His free verse style, use of everyday language, and celebration of democracy reshaped American poetry,
making it more accessible and expressive.

Through his groundbreaking style, Whitman captured the soul of America, leaving behind a legacy that
continues to inspire poets and readers worldwide.