Comments on: Emily for Oct. 6 http://emilym.lookingforwhitman.org/2009/10/06/emily-for-oct-6/ Just another Looking for Whitman weblog Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:40:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.30 By: bmzreece http://emilym.lookingforwhitman.org/2009/10/06/emily-for-oct-6/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:41:52 +0000 http://emilym.lookingforwhitman.org/?p=44#comment-6 ‘The ones who live have a responsibility to go on, as the nurse in “The Wound Dresser” does: “On, on I go” (39). There are many wounded and dying men who need attention from the nurse, so he must keep going on.’

Whitman’s primary nursing focus was on, as historian Melissa Delcour says [in an article for a Virginia newspaper], “psychological and spiritual” nursing, though he did help out with some medical services [amputations]. And according to many sources, he was very popular at his job. The sight of amputated limbs when first visiting war hospitals shocked Whitman, and his preference was greatly for the personal interaction with the patients rather than the wound-dressing that is the subject here.

]]> By: jewbacca http://emilym.lookingforwhitman.org/2009/10/06/emily-for-oct-6/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:58:42 +0000 http://emilym.lookingforwhitman.org/?p=44#comment-5 “Whitman addresses the constant motion of the world in these poems. These reminders of the on-going motion of life serve to link those fighting in the war with those waiting at home. Life goes on for the wound-dresser nursing the dying, the mother back on the farm who just lost her only son, and the men on the frontlines.”

I think that’s an excellent point. People forget that while the glorious battles (sarcasm intended) are going on, the world hasn’t stopped spinning. Even historical novels dedicated to the reality of the Civil War often leave out that aspect of life.

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