Walt Whitman Sexuality Debate Essay examples - 759 Words

Walt Whitman: Sexuality Debate The debate of one’s sexuality has more commonly come into the picture of American society towards the very end of the 19th century. A captious discussion is the lifestyle of Walt Whitman: American poet, essayist and journalist. Though modern critics tend to debate his sexuality, there is great disagreement as to whether Whitman ever had sexual relations with men, expressed alongside his poetry. Walt Whitman was born on Long Island on May 31st, 1819, just thirty years after George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the newly formed United States of America. Whitman published his poem â€Å"Beat! Beat! Drums!† as a patriotic rally call for the North. In 17th century America, it is a†¦show more content†¦In I Sing the Body Electric the expressive subject chants: Have you ever loved the body of a woman? Have you ever loved the body of a man? Do you not see that these are exactly the same to all in all nations and times all over the earth? This seems to prove Whitman’s bisexual and/ or heterosexual nature, and that is why it would be wrong to categorize him as homosexual only. Though Leaves of Grass was often labeled pornographic, only one critic, Refus Wilmot Griswold, remarked its author’s presumed sexual activity, suggesting Whitman was guilty of â€Å"that horrible sin not to be mentioned among Christians†. Peter Doyle may be the most likely to be classified as Whitman’s first male partner. Doyle met Whitman around 1866 when Doyle was a bus conductor. Interviewed in 1895, Doyle said: â€Å"We were familiar at once- I put my hand on his knee- we understood. He did not get out at the end of the trip- in fact went all the way back with me†. A more direct account came from Oscar Wilde, who met Whitman in 1882, boasting â€Å"I have the kiss of Walt Whitman still on my lips†. Another possible lover was Bill Duckett, a teenage boy who lived on the same street and later moved in w ith Whitman, who described their friendship as â€Å"thick†. Yet another intense relationship with a young man was Harry, Stafford, whose family he stayed with at Timber Creek. Whitman gave Stafford a ring which Stafford wrote back â€Å"You knowShow MoreRelatedWalt Whitman Poetry Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesWhitman’s Contribution to American Identity Walt Whitman’s portfolio of poetry was a crucial staple in the American identity. Whitman used his poetry to contribute to the evolution of self-reliance, human freedom and concepts of democracy. These influences can be seen throughout all of his poems, but more relevantly in â€Å"Song of Myself†, â€Å"For You O Democracy† and in â€Å"Live Oak, with Moss†. After analyzing these works thoroughly, Whitman has undeniably aided in the development of American identityRead MoreAnalysis Of Song Of Myself By Walt Whitman1451 Words   |  6 Pagesself-wisdom, discovery and betterment – is the ground-breaking poet, Walt Whitman. In his poetry, Whitman explores the surreal and cosmic, relating the supernatural to the mundane .With an emphasis on oneness with nature, Whitman’s celebratory attitude of the human soul in all of its complexity, beauty, and contradictions is most noted in his extensive poem titled â€Å"Song of Myself†, and is de veloped further in his poem â€Å"Kosmos†. Moreover, Whitman pioneers the future of modern poetry while incorporating hisRead MoreSex Sexuality in the Poetry of Walt Whitman3834 Words   |  16 PagesI have not gaind acceptance of my own time, but have fallen back on fond dreams of the future (by Walt Whitman, qtd. in Miller, Sex and Sexuality) SEX AND SEXUALITY IN THE POETRY OF WALT WHITMAN Perhaps, in the following essay I put a quart into a pint pot, because I intend to puzzle out, or rather, find and give a deeper insight into Walt Whitmans sexuality that is still a question on agenda. There are readers and critics who state that it is a shame to humble his poetry to this levelRead MoreHow Fa Has the Use of English Language Enriched or Disrupted Life and Culture in Mauritius15928 Words   |  64 Pagesuncertain. Reply 2. [pic]John Yi says: July 13, 2011 at 5:18 pm 20 Walt Whitman Walt Whitman shares his view on the question concerning the present life of individuals in his poem part 20 of â€Å"Song of Myself†. His first stanza begins with the query pertaining to the mechanics of the human body, â€Å"Who goes there? †¦ How is it I extract strength from the beef I eat?† (389-390). Whitman ponders deeply on why food is a necessity for man to function. As the poem breaks into theRead MoreThe American Revolution : America2934 Words   |  12 Pagesstarted picking sides to, by using political ideas in sermons. The tea act, tax on sugar and the stamp act were major issues American’s had with Great Britain and decided they needed a war to protect their freedom. â€Å"The Stamp Act of 1765 transformed a debate among gentlemen into a mass political movement†. Great Britain was banning tea from other empires and that scared the American people’s freedom. The American people wanted to gain more freedom. Things leading u p to America’s independence were theRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 PagesHe was previously a lecturer in the Department of History and Welsh History at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His research interests include the history of strategic thought, and technology and military affairs. He is the author of The Tank Debate: Armour and the Anglo-American Military Tradition (Harwood Academic, 2000) along with articles on both historical and contemporary military issues. He is presently writing a book on the influence of technology in strategic thought. Chih-Yang Tseng