Sunday, April 23, 2017
It was...
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Witty Whitman
Part 1:
The second page of the journal is titled "Brochure" and underneath that it says "two characters as of a dialogue between A. Lincoln and..." with the second person's name covered with a stamp. This introduces that Abraham Lincoln is an important part of Whitman's writing in his journal. The page goes on to say, "lessons for a president elect." this shows that the intended audience is to the president elect, and that since Whitman is trying to teach him a lesson, that may ehe is not fond of his ideas or platform. On the next page, words like, "religion, two platforms, Greek, philosophy, and questioning" are all found. These words are scattered about and many of the lines on this page are nearly overlapping others, and some are even marked out. This reveals Whitman was unorganized and did not have his thoughts fully gathered before he wrote in his journal. The next page says, "Why now I shall know whether there is anything in you, libertad?" In Spanish, libertad means liberty. This relates to Whitman's beliefs of freedom and equality for all Americans. Before there are lines crossed off at the bottom, he asks the question, "is all then lost?" He may be implying that without liberty, a society has nothing. It is interesting that Whitman uses "you" and asks questions in his journal. This is something that is typically kept personal, but hosts that his thought process includes questioning other people, to make them think, and eventually agree with him in thought. Whitman then goes on to talk about, "waves, ships, sail, wind and sea." He appears to be making some connection between the president elect and a turbulent storm at sea, again showing his disapproval or anxiety with the incoming president. This thought develops since the next page is titled, "Ship of Libertad." Ship is repeated many more times throughout the next two pages, which makes this an extended metaphor. The next few pages also all have Library of Congress stamps. This shows that his journals probably resided in the library and were well-preserved. On these pages, are many sketches, beginning as realistic and transitioning into more abstract or "weird." the first one is of a man with medium length hair and a beard. This could possibly be a self-portrait or of his lover, because it does not look like Abraham Lincoln (even though it would make sense if it was him). On the next page, the head is given a body and on the following page he is bodyless but now has a top hat. The sketches become more sloppy and less detailed as they progress, showing that he was possibly rushing or getting frustrated. There is then a sketch of what appears to be a harp and next is a title page that says "The Bohemian"which could be the title of a poem he is playing with.
Part 2:
After reading the notes accompanying the pictures, its clear that Whitman uses "libertad" to show that the ideas of civi liberties extends past the constraints of the American border and that everyman, no matter where they live, should be treated with dignity and equality. The two religious platforms spoken about are not actually religious; they refer to the Confederacy and the Union. The storm that is present is actually the state of turbulence the country is in. The ship is the libertad, and Lincoln is described to the captain of the ship, who is coming to help salvage America. This opposes what I interpreted the words to mean previously. Whitman was actually a supporter of Lincoln and saw him as a beacon of hope for the crumbling country. The Civil War impacted Whitman at a deeper level than just social rights. His publisher went bankrupt just before the war which would affect his income as well. This shows Whitman had alternative reasons for supporting Lincoln. The first sketch of the man, apparently was Whitman, even though he barely drew. He used to love being photographed and drawn, which shows that he might have been slightly self-conceited or obsessed. Only the rich people could afford to be photographed, so this fact reveals his socioeconomic level. The strangest sketch on the last page, may actually be a creative image of how America appeared at the time. He seems half finished, and somewhere in between dead and alive. This shows that Whitman questions if America will actually ever be able to be saved.
The second page of the journal is titled "Brochure" and underneath that it says "two characters as of a dialogue between A. Lincoln and..." with the second person's name covered with a stamp. This introduces that Abraham Lincoln is an important part of Whitman's writing in his journal. The page goes on to say, "lessons for a president elect." this shows that the intended audience is to the president elect, and that since Whitman is trying to teach him a lesson, that may ehe is not fond of his ideas or platform. On the next page, words like, "religion, two platforms, Greek, philosophy, and questioning" are all found. These words are scattered about and many of the lines on this page are nearly overlapping others, and some are even marked out. This reveals Whitman was unorganized and did not have his thoughts fully gathered before he wrote in his journal. The next page says, "Why now I shall know whether there is anything in you, libertad?" In Spanish, libertad means liberty. This relates to Whitman's beliefs of freedom and equality for all Americans. Before there are lines crossed off at the bottom, he asks the question, "is all then lost?" He may be implying that without liberty, a society has nothing. It is interesting that Whitman uses "you" and asks questions in his journal. This is something that is typically kept personal, but hosts that his thought process includes questioning other people, to make them think, and eventually agree with him in thought. Whitman then goes on to talk about, "waves, ships, sail, wind and sea." He appears to be making some connection between the president elect and a turbulent storm at sea, again showing his disapproval or anxiety with the incoming president. This thought develops since the next page is titled, "Ship of Libertad." Ship is repeated many more times throughout the next two pages, which makes this an extended metaphor. The next few pages also all have Library of Congress stamps. This shows that his journals probably resided in the library and were well-preserved. On these pages, are many sketches, beginning as realistic and transitioning into more abstract or "weird." the first one is of a man with medium length hair and a beard. This could possibly be a self-portrait or of his lover, because it does not look like Abraham Lincoln (even though it would make sense if it was him). On the next page, the head is given a body and on the following page he is bodyless but now has a top hat. The sketches become more sloppy and less detailed as they progress, showing that he was possibly rushing or getting frustrated. There is then a sketch of what appears to be a harp and next is a title page that says "The Bohemian"which could be the title of a poem he is playing with.
Part 2:
After reading the notes accompanying the pictures, its clear that Whitman uses "libertad" to show that the ideas of civi liberties extends past the constraints of the American border and that everyman, no matter where they live, should be treated with dignity and equality. The two religious platforms spoken about are not actually religious; they refer to the Confederacy and the Union. The storm that is present is actually the state of turbulence the country is in. The ship is the libertad, and Lincoln is described to the captain of the ship, who is coming to help salvage America. This opposes what I interpreted the words to mean previously. Whitman was actually a supporter of Lincoln and saw him as a beacon of hope for the crumbling country. The Civil War impacted Whitman at a deeper level than just social rights. His publisher went bankrupt just before the war which would affect his income as well. This shows Whitman had alternative reasons for supporting Lincoln. The first sketch of the man, apparently was Whitman, even though he barely drew. He used to love being photographed and drawn, which shows that he might have been slightly self-conceited or obsessed. Only the rich people could afford to be photographed, so this fact reveals his socioeconomic level. The strangest sketch on the last page, may actually be a creative image of how America appeared at the time. He seems half finished, and somewhere in between dead and alive. This shows that Whitman questions if America will actually ever be able to be saved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)