Inside the Mind of Walt Whittman
Below are my notes on each different page of Walt Whittman's notebook. The pages are labeled and the bullets are my thoughts. Below each bullet list is an astricts note and that is what the notes page stated about each page.
Conclusive thoughts:
I think the significance of these images and notes is to examine how Walt Whittman views America. There is lots of dark and ominous language used as a way to analyze how Whitman's inner thoughts became works of literature that can be explored today. The significance of this is that without Whitman's inner thoughts we as a reader would not be able to understand the conditions in which he created his work but also how he felt about the literature he was creating. It is further revealed that Whittman was disturbed by alcoholism and the political and philosophical tension that plagued the United States at this time. Ultimately the time period that Whittman was in is reflected in his literature.
Through my analysis of Whitman's notebook, I was able to see how time and place can affect the development of one's work. I enjoyed how each page had descriptions of what Whittman’s notes meant. Without the notes written about Whittman’s thoughts, I do not think that I would have been able to understand his work. I also enjoyed the drawings that were placed at the end of his notebook and how they were different depictions of Whittman as well as a grotesque interpretation of America. All in all Whittman’s thoughts are very incongruous and sporadic but were an interesting way to examine the way in which Whittman developed his works.
Page 1
- Black leather cover
*Small notebook that Whitman carried in his coat pocket
Page 2
- Charles
- Houston
- 17th and 10th
*Scribbled names and addresses onto the front cover of his notebook
Page 3
- Lessons for a president election
*Jotted down ideas for a novel that included Abraham Lincoln
Page 4
- Two religions
*Felt there was a political and philosophical divide in the US
Page 5
- Perhaps I shall see the crash
*Examine how America can possibly avoid their looming problems
Page 6
- And you
*Not a complete thought
Page 7
- Smoother sea
*Implies that a new leader is at the helm of America and now things are smoother
Page 8
- Full crowd
- Black Clouds
- Clouds of Death
*Implies a dark imminent dreadful tone that is going to occur in the nation
Page 9
- For them
- I want to see what I see
*Whitman needed a new start due to his heavy drinking and lived with lots of his own family
Page 10
- Ship of the world
- Ship of Humanity
- Ship of the ages
- Ship that circulates the world
- Ship of the hope of the world
- Ship of promise
*Stamped with a library of congress seal
Page 11
- Side portrait image of a man
*Stamped with a library of congress seal
Page 12
- Image of a man with a large head and smaller body
*Stamped by the library of congress
*Darker nose due to his heavy drinking
*Implies he’s drunk
Page 13
- Side profile of a man in a top hat looking down
*Someone drew Whittman how they saw him
Page 14
- Back view of a man in a top hat
*Inspired by Lincoln’s hat and grew to inspire the classic Dr.Suess hat
Page 15
- Harp depiction
Page 16
- The Bohemian
*Circled the word Bohemian many times
Page 17
- The last war
*Referred to the struggles in 1861 and how it is like a second war similar to the one in 1776
Page 18
- Figure with a skull head and a heart body and a knife through the heart body
*An allegory for America
Conclusive thoughts:
I think the significance of these images and notes is to examine how Walt Whittman views America. There is lots of dark and ominous language used as a way to analyze how Whitman's inner thoughts became works of literature that can be explored today. The significance of this is that without Whitman's inner thoughts we as a reader would not be able to understand the conditions in which he created his work but also how he felt about the literature he was creating. It is further revealed that Whittman was disturbed by alcoholism and the political and philosophical tension that plagued the United States at this time. Ultimately the time period that Whittman was in is reflected in his literature.
Through my analysis of Whitman's notebook, I was able to see how time and place can affect the development of one's work. I enjoyed how each page had descriptions of what Whittman’s notes meant. Without the notes written about Whittman’s thoughts, I do not think that I would have been able to understand his work. I also enjoyed the drawings that were placed at the end of his notebook and how they were different depictions of Whittman as well as a grotesque interpretation of America. All in all Whittman’s thoughts are very incongruous and sporadic but were an interesting way to examine the way in which Whittman developed his works.
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