Walt Whitman & Frederick Douglas

Whitman's poetry offered a true definition of the American spirit, and his masterpiece Leaves of Grass may be considered a tribute to the American people and their way of life. When evaluating Whitman's status as a writer and an artist, it is important to consider both the strengths that one may observe in poetry, as well as his weaknesses, as a thorough contemplation of Whitman's skills as poet is the only true way to determine his place in the pantheon of American Literature. Ultimately, it becomes obvious that Whitman is one of the most significant figures in American Literature, on par with the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and even surpassing the importance of early American writers such as William Bradford and Michael Wigglesworth.

When evaluating Whitman's strengths as a poet, his ability to tap into the essence of a uniquely American spirit must certainly be placed at the top of the list. In many ways, Whitman may be considered the first truly American poet, and as a result, his work reflects the democratic character of the nation itself. Thus, Whitman's poetry is the poetry of the common man, and perhaps more importantly, the individual. This is best exemplified in "Song of Myself," whose title alone indicates Whitman's intentions within the poem. The idea of the importance and power of the individual is central to American culture, as it is a democracy where each individual truly has a voice. "Song of Myself" seems to focus specifically on the poet himse

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ted Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. New York: Penguin, 1980. ultimately seems to view the artist that his own satisfaction in the creative process is worth the trouble of creation regardless of the fate of the final product. Hawthorne makes it clear that artist is an e. "Rappaccini's Daughter." Hawthorne's Short Stories. New York: Vintage, 1955. 264-290. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Frederick Douglass tells the story of his life in slavery and his eventual escape to freedom in the North. As his tale progresses, the reader is able to observe the developments of his character until he is able to achieve a complete sense of personal identity when he attains his freedom. As the narrative begins, Frederick explains that he was born into slavery. From the start, Douglass is denied a true sense of self, as, like many slaves, he is unaware of his exact birth date. Even the most basic information about himself is denied to him within the institution of slavery. He does not know his mother, and only has suspicions about who his father is, further denying Douglass any sense of identity that he might obtain through his familial connections. As a young child, Douglass is not treat

Category: Literature - W