Jennifer E. for Oct 20
This week I would like to focus on the passage that is titled Human and Heroic New York because whenever I see writings about New York it makes me reminisce what it is known for.
The general subjective view of New York and Brooklyn…
which I may call the human interior and exterior…
no need to specify minutely …the human qualities of these vast cities…
is to me comforting, even heroic, beyond statement…
clear eyes that look straight at you…
To-day, I should say-defiant of cynics and pessimists,
and with a full knowledge of all their exceptions
an appreciative view that New York gives the directest proof yet of successful democracy (847-848).
I chose this quote from the passage because Whitman personifies the city and compares it to a human being. This is especially seen as Whitman calls Manhattan the interior and Brooklyn the exterior of New York. It is the same as someone liking someone for their personality or for their physical features. Then I love how Whitman states that the human qualities of New York makes it the best example of democracy. What Whitman means from this is that he wants the two sub cities of New York City to unite under one ; and Whitman envisions this to happen.
Now I would like to focus on a passage that Whitman wrote that is called a “Night Remembrance”. This passage spoke to me because I appreciate nature as well, but the imagery Whitman uses just completely makes me appreciate how beautiful the earth is.
“I was down here with a friend till after midnight; everything a
miracle of splendor-the glory of the stars, and completely
rounded moon-the passing clouds, silver and
luminous-tawny-now and then masses of vapory illuminated
scud-and silently by my side my dear friend. The shades of the
trees, and patches of moonlight on the grass”(854).
I am guessing that during those times, one can see the stars and moon so brightly. Today, I can never truly say that I got a great view of the stars where they light up the sky. Besides that, I just love Whitman’s diction which describes the constellations so well. His use of words such as splendor and luminous just pop out because he really creates the image but in words. This is just another poem that connects Whitman to nature. However, it is interesting to see how in this passage Whitman includes a friend who must be someone special because nature is something he hold so dear to his heart.
But I guess we will never know who this special friend is…
October 22 2009 03:05 pm | Uncategorized
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Jen,
I like your post and the connections you make between the city and the man. Whitman often found the city a useful metaphor – I think because he was simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by it. Repulsed may be too strong of a word – but the materialism it represented was something Whitman often found himself needing to escape. At the same time, the city was a fascinating as a beacon of hope.
Check out “I Dream’d in a Dream” – he uses the city there as a symbol for something greater.