The Historical Legacy of America Through Walt Whitmans Poetry

"Song of Myself" seems to focus specificall(a)y on the poet himself, as Whitman begins by declaring, "I celebrate myself, and blab myself" (1), but America for Whitman is about more than scarce the resplendency of the individual. He also understands the significance of the nation's history as he explains, "My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air,/Born hither of p arents born here from parents the kindred, and their parents the same?" (6-7). As a result, Whitman's meter is not simply about the triumph of the individual, but the collective American life and its historical legacy.

While it is apparent that Whitman's understanding and appreciation for the American fictional character, along with his intention to not simply describe what is exquisite about his nation but provide readers with a scent out of wisdom as well, are his greatest strengths as poet, these same traits may actually reflect his weakness as a writer as well. By focusing on much(prenominal) national concerns and experiences, Whitman often fails to capture a sense of cosmopolitan humanity in his poetry. One might argue that his poetry is, in fact, too specific and uniquely American. In the 1855 say to Leave of Grass, Whitman declares, "The Americans of all nations at any time upon the soil have probably the fullest poetical nature. The United States themselves are fundamentally the greatest poem" (v). This idealized image of America reflects a kind of chauvinism that migh

t be offensive to some readers. Whitman's skills as a poet are vast, but this aspect of his writing may rightfully be considered a weakness.

--. "The Birthmark." Hawthorne's Short Stories. New York: Vintage, 1955. 147-164.

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. New York: Penguin, 1980.

Taking all of this into account, it is difficult to argue Whitman's significance in the history of American Literature. Indeed, much like Nathaniel Hawthorne, who defined early American character through the lenses of the nation's puritanical roots in his literature, Whitman's poetry helped to consecrate the changing nature of the United States as it was evolving in the mid-nineteenth century.

In this sense, both Whitman and Hawthorne have greater significance within American Literature than either William Bradford or Michael Wigglesworth, whose writings still well reflect an English sensibility. Like Hawthorne, Whitman is a writer who embodies a distinctly American character, making him all the more significant.

Hawthorne's befool of the artist contrasts sharply with his view of scientists/doctors within his short stories. In "Rappaccini's daughter," Hawthorne tells the story of a scientist/doctor, Rappaccini, who is so consumed with his scientific pursuits that he uses his get daughter as an experimental subject. There are no doubts about Hawthorne's feelings toward men of science given this rather unsportsmanlike portrayal of Rappaccini; indeed, the author seems to call the validity of scientific research itself into question, as Rappaccini seems to exploit it all for his own personal mirth and not necessarily for its possible benefits to mankind. Rappaccini is so consumed with his experiment that he is willing to sacrifice the happiness of his daughter, Beatrice, in order to take his research. She is left isolated from others because of her father's scientific pursuits, unable to be with Giovanni, who has bighearted to love her. Ultimately, death is t
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