Jennifer E. for Oct 15th
During the readings for this week I was surprised to find a more sympathetic Whitman. In his other writings, one often finds satire and content for those who are not for the unite. However, I found writing that was more sympathetic that just really centered on good virtues rather than the bad. For this weeks readings, I would like to focus first on The White House by Moonlight.
“The White House of future poems, and of dreams and dramas, there in the soft and copious moon-thegorgeous front, in the trees, under the lustrous floodingmoon, full of reality, full of illusion-the forms of the trees,leafless, silent, in trunk and myriad-angles of branches, underthe stars and sky-the White House of the land, and of beauty and night-sentries at the gates…pacing there in blue overcoats…eyeing you with sharp eyes, whichever way you move” (742).
I chose to focus on this because white represents so much in society, therefore when one comes across the word white, one must stop and analyze. It is commonly found that white is used to symbolize purity, innocence, and good. Its just interesting that Whitman chooses to describe the White House with the moon light because he is expressing that it stands strong even at night. Then if we take a look at the first line which states, “The White House of future poems” it is evident that the White House represents unity of the union and the rebellious states to Whitman. It is the symbol of the America that Whitman knows is not going to die, but rather live on for people to tell to future generations.
Now I would like to focus on a passage on Death of President Lincoln because it was a very graphic passage for me.
“He leaves for America’s history and biography…UNIONISM, in its truest and amplest sense, form’d the hardpan of his character. These he seal’d with his life. The tragic splendor of his death, purging, illuminating all, throws round his form, his head, an aureole that will remain and will grow brighter through time…He was assassinated-but the Union is not assassinated… Death…obliterates a hundred…a President…but the nation is immortal” (787-788).
I really like this passage because I love how it just correlates with history and true American Patriotism. This truly connects to the White House passage because it demonstrates how the White House is the beacon of hope and the President is the Leader who acts upon for hope. It is just interesting to see this more sentimental, more relaxed version of Whitman. Whitman’s admiration for Lincoln just touches me because I am just so used to him hating on people’s lack of sensitivity and understanding. I am assuming, because all Whitman writes about is unity and peace, that this is Whitman’s perfect example of everything he believes in and stands for so I can feel, somewhat in undertones, his pain.
October 15 2009 01:04 pm | Uncategorized
October 15th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I found Whitman to be a lot more sympathetic in these pieces as well. I like the passages you chose. I think Whitman’s true sense of both pain and love when it came to the Civil War and his love of America and Humanity, and his pain to see people hurting are all quite apparent in these passages.
October 16th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Good post. The line that Whitman refers to the White House as a place for future poems reminds me of the opening lines of the film Glory. “We fight for men and women who’s poetry is not yet written but will presently be enviable and renound as any” In both contexts i think the authors are predicting what beauty may come from our future generations.