Fanny

 

This is the first time that I've heard of Frances Wright which is unfortunate because she is a hero that should be paid tribute to in American history. Fanny is an exemplary American; an abolitionist, entrepreneur and free thinker. She lived the American dream by coming to the States from Scotland as an orphan and eventually becoming an influential and popular figure in American society. She became known through her written work for the press, concentrated in solutions for creating a slave-free society. Wright also participated in the establishment of a "utopian" community. Wright didn't believe in organized religion, still a controversial subject.

Walt Whitman was a fan of Fanny's work. He called Wrights novel A Few Days in Athens his "daily food". The novel is a translation if a Greek work about a young man, Theon.

All in all, Wright was an influential woman who challenged common ideology and proposed radical and transcendental ideas for the transformation of society.

Chants Democratic

 Top Row: Whitman, You, Me, Whitman, Whitman, You, You, Me, Me,
Whitman, Whitman
Middle Row:  You, Me, Whitman, Whitman, Me, Me, Whitman, You, Whitman, Me, You, Me, Whitman, Whitman, You, You, Me, Whitman, Whitman 
Front Row: You, Me, Whitman, Whitman, You, You, Me, Me,
Whitman, Whitman, Me, You, Whitman
Left Most: Whitman, You

The loafer empowers the working man! The working man is the loafer? Or is the working man the working man? 
Whitman says "it's all good, I'm not gonna judge you, don't judge me, we are all in this together, you my friend are what makes the world go around."


I think this poem is another look at how dynamic Whitman was.
"Come closer to me..." has a different name for it in every edition of Leaves of Grass. The poems location in the poem also vary.




1856 "Poem of the daily workmen and work women of the United States"  2nd poem in Leaves of Grass.
1860 "Chants Democratic "  appears near beginning.
1867 "To workingmen." appears middle closer to end.
1872  "Carol of Occupations" midway through the edition.
 1881- 1882 "A song for Occupations" middle of the edition
1891-1892  "A song for Occupations" middle of the edition.






 As the poem shifts further into the reading, it can be argued that it's importance becomes less significant. I say this because of the way our memory works, people are more likely to remember the beginning and end of a sequence rather than the middle. So if someone happened to read the book cover to cover the poems in the middle would probably resonate less with the reader. 


On the other hand, Whitman constantly changed the name of this poem so it must  have some special significance to him. Maybe it was because he as, the loafer, found a special balance in this poem by addressing
the working man and woman.

 This poem goes through some serious changes between 1855 and 1882. Many lines are added which add a significantly stronger address to the worker.


for example:
"If you stand at work in a shop I stand as nigh as the nighest in
         the same shop"

Perhaps, as Whitman got older he became more interested in his community rather than himself and nature.
 Or maybe since he wasn't a laborer he felt more grateful and passionate about the work of others. Historicaly, after the Civil War workers rights became one of the central concerns in cities. In the 1870's strikes and riots began to occur in major cities like Boston, New York and Chicago. The 1880's and 1890's saw several massacres due to workers striking, including the 1887 strike in Chicago of more than 50,000 workers. 300,000 workers assembled to strike across America on May Day ( May 1st. 1886) for the 8- hour work day.

The Haymarket massacre of 1886 fallowing a strike in Haymarket Square, Chicago:

(Looks like Whitman was on top that day)



This poem shows how unconditionally patriotic and passionate Whitman was in the affairs of American people. I feel that this poem would have worked best in the end of the book because it would have been the perfect inspiring and patriotic ode to the average American woarker. 


"We consider the bibles and religions divine . . . . I do not say they are not divine,

I say they have all grown out of you and may grow out of you still,

It is not they who give the life . . . . it is you who give the life;

Leaves are not more shed from the trees or trees from the earth than they are shed          out of you. "

Blue Book

I find it interesting that Walt Whitman, a poet who hardly used rhyme, focussed so very much on the

rhythm of his work. In the Blue Book this can be seen through all of the punctuation changes that Whitman made. In some places these changes seem to hardly make a difference (using a semi-colon instead of a coma). But, to Walt these had to be important since there were so many alterations of this kind. Also, Walt took the letter "e" from lots of words, I'm not sure if this was meant to change the rhythm as well or if it was supposed to be some sort of statement. Also some sentences were deleted and capitalization changed. 

Mainly I found it interesting how much he focused on the area which talked about all of the different types of American people and States. This can be seen in "Walt Whitman" pages 44-46, as well as the poems before it. I think that the notes in the Blue Book show that Whitman's interest in 1960  was centered around the States. 

1855 vs 1860

Leaves of Grass underwent some serious changes in just a matter of five years. The 1855 version begins with Song of Myself and the line, "I celebrate myself". In contrast the 1860 version of leaves of grass begins with, "Elemental drifts".  Also the format of the later is different from the earlier version. In the 1855 version Whitman writes in longer sentences, using many "...". The later version contains longer sentences with more commas. One of the most apparent differences is that the later version is about five times longer in length than the first, and the poems have titles.

The theme of Whitman's writing hadn't changed much. Whitman's love for nature and unity can be read between the lines in either version. It seems that the later version speaks more about the crowds, at least in contrast to song of myself. This makes the 1860 version feel more like a metropolitan mans tale than that of a loafer in the woods. Perhaps, Whitman's ideas are more centered around crowds in 1860 because of his rising zeal for Democracy. As the States moved closer towards Civil War the subject of freedom began to gain more of a political influence in Whitman's writing.

One(ida community)

If Prince, 20th centuries ultimate pop star, can become a Jehovah Witness and change his name to:

Then why didn't Walt Whitman, the ultimate 19th century pop writer, join the Oneida Community? And change his name to:

Maybe Walt heard about the Community and decided not to join because of the Stripculture which aimed at more perfect breeding of human (how could breeding be any more perfect if Walt's own flesh that sticks to his bones was as perfect as it gets, as perfect as the next guys). Or, perhaps Walt was bothered by the sight of post-menopausal women "teaching" teenage boys about sex.

It's hard to say what exactly turned Walt off, but it is easy to imagine what turned him on. Heaven on earth, perfection on earth, democracy and community. After reading Song of Myself it becomes apparent that Walt was in love with the idea of an all inclusive world, shared by everyone. I'm not sure if Walt Whitman had ever read the Communist Manifesto which was published in 1848, less then a decade before Leaves of Grass; but, the confluence of the two works and the Oneida Community sure is interesting. The two works and Oneida share an idea of a world governed by laws which guarantee equal perfection for everyone on earth. Oneida and the Manifesto especially share the idea of a perfect community.

Unfortunately, so far we have learned that the dynamics of human nature ultimately prevent peace and perfection, poor Karl Marx must be turning in his grave. So, before we can create a perfect community, people need to find individual perfection within themselves. That's what Walt told us, that is what he did.

The Contemporaries

The difference of style is obvious between Whitman and his contemporaries. Systematic rhyme scheme is apparent in Elizabeth Oak Smiths poem "An Incident", in which she uses the standard English Sonnet format. Instead of fallowing a rhyme scheme or sonnet format Whitman's writing elegantly rebels against the system by creating its own rhythm guided by imagery and content, a style that creates its personalized form. Figurative language is common to most poems; animals and nature scenes are also present in most poems of the era. However, Whitman tells us about his oneness with nature, where as his contemporaries speak of their longing to be a part of it. It's as if Whitman's contemporaries are looking for answers but he already knows them. In this manner Whitman gives us a more enlightened view of existence.



 In addition, Smith kind of looks like a snob:

 

Walt Whitman kickin' it:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, battle of the beards:

SD: Central Parks Walks and Talks

Whitman spent much of his life in New York City, a place notorious for its history as a melting pot of cultures and ideas. In such a busy place, with thousands of things happening all at once, I would imagine that there would be countless distractions and things of interest. So why does Whitman and so many of his transcendentalist contemporaries have such a strong urge to leave the big apple and spend some time loafing in the woods? Flowers, trees, animals, bugs, dirt and rivers all have their appeal, but these things can be found in the city too. Whitman feels that everything is at harmony but somehow he feels more harmonious in nature. Why does it have to take grass to realize that we are all part of the same? What about grains of sand in cement walls, don't they connect us as too? At least in respect to modern cultures... "Song of Myself" finds unity between human kind and nature, but I feel that the emphasis of harmony for humankind is an ideal that gets left behind for the woods. This theme, however, isn't as apparent and adds to the duality of Whitman's views. It's quite frustrating really, because Whitman is so partial and objective at the same time that any argument for or against his writing has an equally valid counter argument. Perhaps, the young New York City of the mid 18th hundreds hadn't quite the level of diversity that was very evident at the turn of the 20th century; still, I wish Whitman's poetry spoke more on the subject of people finding harmony in their life together on a busy little island, as well as with nature.

Barnum's Museum

After learning about Barnum's museum of attractions and curiosities it becomes easier to understand the twisted mind of Walt Whitman. A museum full of monkey fetuses, birds, beasts and other curiosities would spark the imagination of most people. Some could view curiosities as odd things that separate people, yet Walt thought otherwise. I believe that Walt saw bizarre artifacts as unifying objects of our bizarrely fortunate existence. This is why he put himself in the center of the exhibit (Barney). He sat in front of the window inside the museum and observed the motion of the city with the same curiosity that people observed the oddities inside the museum.

Being a meticulous observer became a trait that had helped Whitman create such a profound view of the world around him.His observations, through each  of the different senses, must have had a huge inspiration to Leaves of Grass.

SD: A July Afternoon by the Pond

I can't decide whether I enjoy or am frustrated by Whitman contradicting himself. It feels as though he does it on purpose for us to see the singularity and duality of what he talks about, however, I don't think this works in all cases. He shuns the perfumes of full rooms but embraces those of nature, this can be understood. However, his relationship with people is what confuses me. He talks about not wanting to be a part of society, but when he is away from it he misses people. His love hate relationship with the world is more enough to confuse the hell out of me.

Feet!

And parted the shirt from my bosom-bone, and plunged your tongue to my bare stript heart, And reached till you felt my beard and reached till you felt my feet

• In this passage feet are used as a sensual organ. When someone touches another persons feet a unique connection is formed because feet carry our bodies, they are incredibly sacred.

Selling all he possesses and traveling on foot to fee lawyers for his brother and sit by him while

he is tried for forgery:  

• Feet are a means of labor for vindication.

Her father and his friends sat near cross-legged and dumbly

smoking, they had moccasin to their feet

 and large thick blankets hanging from their shoulders

•  The original Ugg's. 

 

She had long eyelashes an, her head was bare, her coarse

straight locks descended upon her voluptuous limps and reach'd her feet

•  Once again their location is sensual.  They add to the beauty of our bodies when emphasized, yet they are usually unnoticed and hidden. Feet are taboo. 
 

 

And went where he sat on a log and led him in and assured him,

And brought water and fill'd a tub for his sweated body and bruis'd feet.  

• Reference to a sacred act (Jesus washing feet).

It sails me . . . . I dab with bare feet . . . . they are licked by the indolent waves,

I am exposed . . . . cut by bitter and poisoned hail,

Steeped amid honeyed morphine . . . . my windpipe squeezed in the fakes of death,

Let up again to feel the puzzle of puzzles,

And that we call Being

• Sense of touch is extra special with the feet, it is a rarer sensation than with the hands.

My ties and ballasts leave me . . . . I travel . . . . I sail . . . . my elbows rest in the sea-gaps,

I skirt the sierras . . . . my palms cover continents,

I am afoot with my vision....

• The vision is in motion, feet are what move us.  

Coming home with the bearded and dark-cheeked bush-boy . . . . riding behind him at the drape

of the day;

Far from the settlements studying the print of animals' feet, or the moccasin print;

•  Feet can tell us so much about where someone has been and who they are. Feet leave our imprint on the world and touch more than we realize. People leave their imprints on the world through feet and pick up pieces without any notion of it.
 

 

We are about approaching some great battlefield in which we are soon to be engaged,

We pass the colossal outposts of the encampments . . . . we pass with still feet and caution;

Or we are entering by the suburbs some vast and ruined city . . . . the blocks and fallen

architecture more than all the living cities of the globe.

• Our feet express our feelings
 

 

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot soles.

• Everyone turns to dust and will be under someones feet. If we look under our feet in nature we will find dirt, dust or sand. This is not only a connection with the natural world but also everything that has ever lived on this planet.

We all have feet (unless something horrible happened that cost us our precious limbs). Our feet are something that have taken us everywhere we've been and can take us to new places, they are sacred and one of our most useful tools. Our stories are the stories of our feet, feet are beautiful and prized possessions that connect us to the  Earth, to other feet and to everything else. Whitman uses this motif because of the strong connection that feet have with Earth and with our bodies. They are the Herald of our senses and stories, they are the closest organ to grass, and the ultimate connector.