Alpandinar 1

Erin Alpandinar

Dr. D

English IV

27 October 2017

Whitmanian Democracy: Focusing on Social Issues

Throughout both his lifespan and the time following it, Whitman has always been

connected to America and Democracy, eventually gaining the title Americas Poet (Ford). He

was virtually destined to address America in his poetry, with his brother's names being George

Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson Whitman. Presidents throughout history

have frequently acknowledged Whitman. Bill Clinton even quoted Whitman during his

presidency and gave a copy of Leaves of Grass to Monica Lewinsky (Blake). Whitman is a

philosopher of the culture of democracy (Kateb). He actively and proudly detailed his beliefs and

dreams about American society. Throughout his work, Whitman demonstrated his views of a

perfect American democracy by focusing on more social than economic issues, dreaming of an

America that would facilitate equality, freedom, and unity; he displays these beliefs through

rejecting typical poetic standards, questioning societal norms, and placing a significant focus on

sexuality and homoerotic content.

Before discussing how Whitman communicated his democratic message, it is important

to establish the content of his beliefs. Whitman fantasized of an America with freedom, equality,

and unity. He conceives of democracy as freedom from restraint, as liberty to do as one pleases

(Ford). Whitman believed that freedom was essential to democracy, and that social standards

were oppressive; democracy could only become as perfect as nature if all people were free

(Ford). Ford demonstrates that, In Blue Ontarios Shore [Whitman] declares himself the
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spokesman for those whom laws, theories, conventions can never master (Ford). Throughout

his poetic works he expressed such visions of all people having the right to make their own

decision and having the autonomy to do as they please. Likewise, Whitman believed that

freedom included art and literature. Ford explains that, [Whitman] maintains that for democracy

to endure there must be poets and artists dedicated to the democratic ideal of freedom, (Ford).

Without freedom, Whitman believed, democracy would never prevail in America.

In addition to freedom, Whitman believed that a perfect America would contain equality

of all peoples, regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation. As explained by Ford, Not

only does Whitman conceive of democracy as freedom from restraint, but he also conceives of it

as equality for all (Ford). Whitman viewed democracy as a place that provided acceptance for

all individuals regardless of their differences (Huff). For instance, he frequently advocated for

equalities between the genders, working to break social barriers with gender in his work; he

advocated for total equality between men and women (Garman). Whitman fought for social

equality that included, any oneany being, no matter who (Cull). He believed that no

individual would even face discrimination for being different; being different was a positive,

rather than a negative.

Furthermore, Whitman expressed his beliefs in unifying Americans. Elfebein explains

that, Whitman presented a vision of higher harmony, (Elfebein). However, he believed that

American democracy could never become his united vision while slavery persisted (Ford).

Whitman hoped the country would move toward the biblical ideal of universal brotherhood

(Huff). Such beliefs and goals, along with also dreams of freedom and equality, are extremely

highlighted in many of his works, such as O For You Democracy.

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In his poem, For You O Democracy, Whitman showcases his views and hopes for

democracy in America. He opens the poem by discussing how America could be transformed if

democracy truly flowed throughout it, claiming if democracy appears that he will assist it in the

process of revolution. Whitman talks to democracy, begging it to come to America, all while

professing his commitment to help it make a true impact. Whitman explains how America would

become indestructible, writing, Come, I will make the continent indissoluble, and claims it will

make Americans, the most splendid race the run ever shone upon. But what will this euphoric

America contain?

Whitman claims it will be full of unity, love, and equality. In order to emphasize the

presence of love that will surface, Whitman utilizes repetition of the phrase, the love of

comrades, on four lines. Additionally, Whitman writes about [planting] companionship thick

as three along all the rivers of/America, and along the shores of the Great Lakes, and all/over the

prairies, and [making] inseparable cities with their arms about each others necks. This is

referring to democracys promise of unity of all, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation,

a belief that Whitman so strongly advocated for throughout this career. He wanted an America

that was a hundred percent accepting of all peoples. In the last two stanzas of the poem,

Whitman addressing democracy directly, giving it a feminine persona. He speaks of serving

democracy, which he addresses as his wife (as shown by him addressing her as ma femme).

Whitman is explaining that he will always serve and advocate for democracy in America, which

is something all Americans should be doing at all times. Huff provides commentary on this

Whitman piece, claiming, Whitman rejoices in his dream of a utopian American society. He

wishes he had godlike powers so he could make divine magnetic lands and enact change by
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planting companionship thick as trees" (Huff). This work of Whitmans is a perfect example to

demonstrate how he showcased his beliefs about American democracy into his work.

In his works, Whitman used several strategies to emphasize his beliefs and ensure that the

reader was able to receive his message. For example, Whitman frequently rejected typical poet

standards, commonly rejecting traditional poetic meter and rhyme (Redding). For instance, he

showcased his belief of freedom of authority through his hatred in rhyme and metrical

measurement in his piece, "Ventures, on an Old Theme" (Redding). Whitmans unique use of

rhetoric in his work greatly contributed to his ability to show his convictions regarding American

democracy to the reader.

Also, Whitman frequently questioned societal norms throughout his works. For instance,

in Song of Myself he writes, I wear my hat as I please, indoors or out. Why should I pray? Why

should I venerate and be ceremonies? (Whitman). In this line, Whitman explains that he will not

follow social standards, but instead live his life as he desires. He explains that he will not

practice religion simply so he will blend in with his peers and follow social standards. Whitman

utilizes similar themes throughout his other works.

In order to demonstrate his beliefs of democracy and America, he places a significant

focus on sexuality and homoerotic content. Elfebein explains that, Whitmanian democracy

stood less for a concrete mode of government than for an outlook on the body, personal relations,

and sex that could be shared by anyone able to interpret him (Elfenbein). Whitmans view of

democracy was largely rooted in sexuality. He viewed sex as the root and base of American

democracy and politics, and believed that homosexuality, moves beyond he concepts of the

anima, the puer aeternus, and the mother complex in individuals, towards a larger political
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meaning (Herrmann). Whitman viewed sexuality was a complex topic that was at the core of

American democracy and politics.

When discussing the homosexual image, Whitman frequently associated it with

principles of love, democracy, and religion, just as it engenders political discussions in the

Republican and Democratic Parties of America today, (Hermann). This demonstrates how

Whitmans discussion of sexuality was an inherent part of his political beliefs. He discussed

homosexual relations to emphasize that that homosexual desire is homoerotic from the body, and

spirit of one person to another (Herrmann). In this topic, Whitman also demonstrated more

beliefs about equality and freedom as, The union of sames placed Whitmans spectrum of love

outside the categories of gender opposites, for in Whitmans homoerotic poetry the same-sex

coniunctio takes the place of the conventional coniunctio of two genders, male and female

(Herrmann). Whitman believed that love had no bounds, especially regarding gender and

sexuality.

Not surprisingly, this topic was personal to Whitman, as he was in fact gay. He even had

to hide his sexuality during the 1855 and 1865 editions of leaves of grass (Hermann). In the

manuscript for his poem, Once I Passd Through a Populous City Whitman revealed his own

sexuality. However, in the final draft of the poem, Whitman changed all the male pronouns to

female pronouns. The published piece reads:

ONCE I passd through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its

shows, architecture, customs, and traditions;

Yet now, of all that city, I remember only a woman I casually met there, who detaind me

for love of me;

Day by Day and night by night we were together,-All else has long been forgotten by me;
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I remember, I say, only that woman who passionately clung to me;

Again we wander-we love-we separate again;

Again she holds me by the hand I msut not go!

I see her close beside me, with silent lips, sad and tremulous. ("Once I Pass'd Through a

Populous City, Whitman, Walt.")

However, as explained by Karbiener, The manuscript for Once I passed through a populous

city has the lines man who wandered with me, there for love of me, / Day by day, and night by

night, we were together. Man was changed to woman in the final draft of the poem

(Karbiener). Whitmans original manuscript of this poem may have been created as a sort of

coming out piece. Additionally, Whitmans connection to being a minority due to his sexuality

may have caused him to have empathy for other minority or marginalized groups that received

discrimination (Karbiener).

Walt Whitman was a democratic, gay poet, who spoke for those who could not speak for

themselves. He demonstrated his views of democracy and a perfect America through discussing

social issues during the political landscape of his time. Throughout his work, Whitman showed

his views of a perfect American democracy by concentrating on more social than economic

issues, dreaming of an America that would foster equality, freedom, and unity; he illustrated

these beliefs through rejecting typical poetic standards, questioning societal norms, and placing a

significant focus on sexuality and homoerotic content. Through this work, he was able to give a

voice to those who had none, promoting acceptance and love among all. Such truths are clearly

demonstrated in Whitmans works O For You Democracy and Once I Passd Through a

Populous City. Whitmans focus on social issues and both minority and marginalized groups
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demonstrated his intense empathy he had for all people in the world, regardless of race, gender,

or sexuality.
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Works Cited

Blake, David Haven. "Los Angeles, 1960: John F. Kennedy and Whitman's Ship of Democracy."

Walt Whitman Quarterly Review, vol. 28, no. 1, 2010, p. 60+. Literature Resource

Center,

go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=lap17ehs&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA24905

8702&it=r&asid=a81313719ebccd9998dd4f936b9a65e1. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

Cull, Ryan. "We Fa Thom You Not--We Love You": Wal T Whitman's Social Ontology and

Radical Democracy." Criticism, vol. 56, no. 4, Fall2014, pp. 761-780. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=109093771&site=eds-live.

Elfenbein, Andrew. Whitman, Democracy, and the English Clerisy. Nineteenth-Century

Literature, vol. 56, no. 1, 2001, pp. 76104. JSTOR, JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/ncl.2001.56.1.76.

Ford, Nick Aaron. Walt Whitman's Conception of Democracy. Phylon (1940-1956), vol. 11,

no. 3, 1950, pp. 201206. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/272002.

Garman, Bryan K. Heroic Spiritual Grandfather: Whitman, Sexuality, and the American Left,

1890-1940. American Quarterly, vol. 52, no. 1, 2000, pp. 90126. JSTOR, JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/30041826.

Herrmann, Steven B. Walt Whitman and the Homoerotic Imagination. Jung Journal: Culture

& Psyche, vol. 1, no. 2, 2007, pp. 1647. JSTOR, JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jung.2007.1.2.16.

Huff, Randall. "For You O Democracy" Encyclopedia of American Poetry, 2-Volume Set,

Second Edition, Facts On File, 2013. Bloom's Literature,

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online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/24386?q=Whitman AND America AND

democracy. Accessed 18 Sept. 2017.

Karbiener, Karen. "Walt Whitman and the Promise of America." Introduction. Leaves of Grass

First and "Death-Bed" Editions, by Walt Whitman, New York, Barns and Noble

Classics, 2004, pp. XIII-XXXIX.

Kateb, George. Walt Whitman and the Culture of Democracy. Political Theory, vol. 18, no. 4,

1990, pp. 545571. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/191541.

Redding, Patrick. Whitman Unbound: Democracy and Poetic Form, 1912-1931. New Literary

History, vol. 41, no. 3, 2010, pp. 669690. JSTOR, JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/40983890.

Whitman, Walt. "For O You Democracy." Poetry Foundation, 2017 Poetry Foundation,

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51567/for-you-o-democracy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.

Whitman, Walt. "Once I Pass'd Through a Populous City. Bartleby,

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45472/i-sing-the-body-electric. Accessed 17 Oct.

2017.