Walt Whitman's Accomplishments

Walt Whitman is one of the most important and influential American Poets of all time. Walter and Louisa Whitman gave birth to their second child Walter Whitman on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York. Whitman died March 26, 1892 at age 72 from multiple things including pleurisy and tuberculosis. Whitman’s personal life, location, and the Romantic Era changed how he wrote. In Whitman’s childhood, he lived with his nine siblings and was forced to work to provide for his family. When Whitman lived with his nine siblings, he became used to hardship and perseverance. When Whitman’s first book failed, he was used to persevering and kept working on his writing career and did not give up. If he wasn’t raised in hardship he would not have persevered

According to Lehman “The public Walt Whitman is the bard that gives the signs of Democracy” (Lehman, 2008). According to the American Experience Whitman never married and lived alone for most of his life. Whitman’s loneliness caused him to write poems such as “The sleepers” and “Whoever You Are Holding Me Now in Hand” that are the best poems on loneliness. The Civil War also affected Whitman’s writing. During the Civil War, Whitman comforted soldiers in Washington D.C. and according to the American Academy of Poets Whitman was “Overcome by the suffering of the many wounded in Washington” (Academy of Poets, 2001). Even though Whitman was overcome he stayed in Washington D.C. to help the soldiers, this shows Whitman’s patriotism. Whitman also created a new character in the Leaves of Grass that represented the wandering common man. According to Carlson “The self Whitman invented was, of course, better than his actual self.” In 1855, Whitman was a shy, bookish, semi-successful newspaperman. The character he created in "Leaves of Grass" was a ruffian, a rebel, the wandering poetic voice of the common man” (Carlson, 2005). Whitman created the character that he wanted to be and represented Whitman’s ideal poet. Since criticism followed Whitman around his whole life he created a better character that he wanted to be that would not be

Whitman’s song of Myself emphasizes an all-powerful I and is about Whitman’s life. “I loafe and invite my soul / I lean and loafe at my ease” (Whitman, Leaves of grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-92 Editions). This quote shows how Whitman was very focused on himself and knew a lot about himself. Another quote that shows the Romantic Era is “I now 37 years old in perfect health begin/ hoping to cease not till death” (Whitman, Leaves of grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-92 Editions). This quote shows the Romantic Era because it focuses on the importance of self. One quote that shows Whitman’s loneliness is “Alone far in the wilds and mountains I hunt” (Whitman, Leaves of grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-92 Editions). This quote shows Whitman’s loneliness in life and how he lives alone and will always be alone. Whitman’s “Song of Myself” is one of the most important poems that shows how Whitman