The Wilmot Proviso basically states that all territory acquired from Mexico would ban slavery in those states. The Proviso did not pass senate, however.
After reading Song of Myself, especially the section about the runaway slave I believe that Whitman would have been for the Wilmot Proviso. Whitman didn't seem like a man of many prejudices and I believe that his runaway slave story is quite true. He saw a human in need of help, and he answered to that need with compassion. But would Whitman have cared enough about the Proviso to do anything about it or to help get it passed? He is obviously not a man who cares for slavery, but if it's not his own direct issue would he do anything about it?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Silent Night Ramble
This stuck out to me for quite a few reasons. One main reason was because of Whitman's ability to pass more than two hours of time in one short paragraph. He starts the night by leaving the hospital at 10PM and walks around enjoying the wonders of the world until past midnight. The short length of the poem passes time in a short fashion practically personifying the thought that "time flies when you're having fun," or in Whitman's case, when you're enjoying the wonders of the world.
Another thing that stood out to me about this piece was the fact that almost anyone can relate to it. If anyone has taken a nightly stroll through the city, or even just around their own neighborhood, they would know the sheer wonder and awe that it can provoke. Even if you've seen the horrors of a hospital or any other traumatic experiences from daily life, one can always take comfort in the beauty of the night's sky, or even the familiarity of the streets in which you walk. The words Whitman uses to describe the night are so beautifully accurate that it's hard not to enjoy this short piece of writing, or Whitman's "ramble".
Another thing that stood out to me about this piece was the fact that almost anyone can relate to it. If anyone has taken a nightly stroll through the city, or even just around their own neighborhood, they would know the sheer wonder and awe that it can provoke. Even if you've seen the horrors of a hospital or any other traumatic experiences from daily life, one can always take comfort in the beauty of the night's sky, or even the familiarity of the streets in which you walk. The words Whitman uses to describe the night are so beautifully accurate that it's hard not to enjoy this short piece of writing, or Whitman's "ramble".
Monday, January 30, 2012
What is grass?
"A child said, What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? ....I do not know what it is any more than he."
I found this section of the poem to be quite powerful. Though Whitman at times acts all knowing, this section displays him question the world and proving that he doesn't know any more than a child does about the workings and mysteries of nature. When Whitman can't come up with a straight answer as to what grass is, he comes up with a collection of metaphorical answers to the child's question, even mentioning that grass is a child of vegetation.
The name of the poem undoubtedly takes from this passage and says a lot about the poem itself. That while Whitman may know a lot about writing and the workings of people and their social habitations, he may never know the answers to the questions of nature and God. To Whitman leaves of grass are just metaphors for a thousand other things that he can answer, but he will never be able to answer what exactly the grass is.
How could I answer the child? ....I do not know what it is any more than he."
I found this section of the poem to be quite powerful. Though Whitman at times acts all knowing, this section displays him question the world and proving that he doesn't know any more than a child does about the workings and mysteries of nature. When Whitman can't come up with a straight answer as to what grass is, he comes up with a collection of metaphorical answers to the child's question, even mentioning that grass is a child of vegetation.
The name of the poem undoubtedly takes from this passage and says a lot about the poem itself. That while Whitman may know a lot about writing and the workings of people and their social habitations, he may never know the answers to the questions of nature and God. To Whitman leaves of grass are just metaphors for a thousand other things that he can answer, but he will never be able to answer what exactly the grass is.
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