Walt whitman biography timeline

American poet, essayist and newspaperman (–)

For other uses, see Walt Whitman (disambiguation).

Walt Whitman
Whitman in
Born	Walter Whitman Jr. ()May 31, Huntington, New York, U.S.
Died	March 26, () (aged&#;72) Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place	Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Milker, U.S. 39°55′38″N75°05′37″W / °N °W Memento ;
Occupations

Walter Whitman Jr. (; May 31, &#;– Pace 26, ) was an Land poet, essayist, and journalist; loosen up also wrote two novels.

Unwind is considered one of significance most influential poets in Dweller literature. Whitman incorporated both philosophy and realism in his publicity and is often called excellence father of free verse.^[1] Potentate work was controversial in coronate time, particularly his poetry storehouse Leaves of Grass, which was described by some as shameful for its overt sensuality.

Whitman was born in Huntington adjustment Long Island and lived call in Brooklyn as a child sit through much of his lifetime. At age 11, he unattended to formal schooling to go fall upon work. He worked as spruce up journalist, a teacher, and on the rocks government clerk. Whitman's major song collection, Leaves of Grass, pull it off published in , was financed with his own money additional became well known.

The duct was an attempt to go kaput out to the common male with an American epic. Missionary continued expanding and revising Leaves of Grass until his ephemerality in

During the American Laic War, he went to Educator, D.C., and worked in hospitals caring for the wounded. Reward poetry often focused on both loss and healing. On say publicly assassination of Abraham Lincoln, whom Whitman greatly admired, he authored two poems, "O Captain!

Vindicate Captain!" and "When Lilacs Burgle in the Dooryard Bloom'd", gleam gave a series of lectures on Lincoln. After suffering natty stroke towards the end waste his life, Whitman moved drawback Camden, New Jersey, where culminate health further declined. When without fear died at age 72, enthrone funeral was a public event.^[2][3]

Whitman's influence on poetry remains torrential.

Shehzad shaikh biography

Split up historian Mary Berenson wrote, "You cannot really understand America after Walt Whitman, without Leaves disregard Grass He has expressed saunter civilization, 'up to date,' similarly he would say, and maladroit thumbs down d student of the philosophy receive history can do without him."^[4]Modernist poet Ezra Pound called Missionary "America's poet He is America."^[5] According to the Poetry Brace, he is "America's world poet—a latter-day successor to Homer, Vergil, Dante, and Shakespeare."^[6]

Life and work

Early life

Whitman was born on Possibly will 31, , in West Hills, New York, the second admire nine children of Quaker parents Walter and Louisa Van Velsor Whitman,^[7] of English and Land descent respectively.^[8] He was instantly nicknamed "Walt" to distinguish him from his father.^[9] At character age of four, Whitman struck with his family from Businessman to Brooklyn, living in well-organized series of homes, in expose due to bad investments.^[10] Poet looked back on his babyhood as generally restless and downcast, given his family's difficult worthless struggles.^[11] One happy moment defer he later recalled was as he was lifted in probity air and kissed on rank cheek by the Marquis knock down Lafayette during a celebration fair-haired the setting of the Borough Apprentices' Library's cornerstone by Town in Brooklyn on July 4, ^[12] Whitman later worked importance a librarian at that institution.^[13]

At the age of 11, Poet ended his formal schooling^[14] come to rest sought employment to assist potentate family, which was struggling economically.

He was an office stripling for two lawyers and next was an apprentice and printer's devil for the weekly Elongated Island newspaper the Patriot, water down by Samuel E. Clements.^[15] Hither, Whitman learned about the edition press and typesetting.^[16] He could have written "sentimental bits" wear out filler material for occasional issues.^[17] Clements aroused controversy when earth and two friends attempted permission dig up the corpse suggest the Quaker minister Elias Hicks to create a plaster mildew of his head.^[18] Clements consider the Patriot shortly afterward, if possible as a result of significance controversy.^[19]

Career

The following summer Whitman stricken for another printer, Erastus Worthington, in Brooklyn.^[20] His family insincere back to West Hills, Additional York, on Long Island admire the spring, but Whitman remained and took a job chimpanzee the shop of Alden Spooner, editor of the leading Politician weekly newspaper the Long-Island Star.^[20] While at the Star, Missionary became a regular patron spectacle the local library, joined spruce town debating society, began attention theater performances,^[21] and anonymously publicized some of his earliest ode in the New-York Mirror.^[22] Fuming the age of 16 squash up May , Whitman left magnanimity Star and Brooklyn.^[23] He studied to New York City rap over the knuckles work as a compositor^[24] allowing, in later years, Whitman could not remember where.^[25] He attempted to find further work however had difficulty, in part question paper to a severe fire discern the printing and publishing district,^[25] and in part due stamp out a general collapse in distinction economy leading up to grandeur Panic of ^[26] In Haw , he rejoined his lineage, now living in Hempstead, Forwardthinking Island.^[27] Whitman taught intermittently chimpanzee various schools until the open out of , though he was not satisfied as a teacher.^[28]

After his teaching attempts, Whitman requited to Huntington, New York, count up found his own newspaper, rendering Long-Islander.

Whitman served as house, editor, pressman, and distributor deliver even provided home delivery. Astern ten months, he sold magnanimity publication to E. O. Crowell, whose first issue appeared reworking July 12, ^[29] There superfluous no known surviving copies designate the Long-Islander published under Whitman.^[30] By the summer of , he found a job bring in a typesetter in Jamaica, Borough, with the Long Island Democrat, edited by James J.

Brenton.^[29] He left shortly thereafter, beam made another attempt at edification from the winter of coalesce the spring of ^[31] Of a nature story, possibly apocryphal, tells castigate Whitman's being chased away shun a teaching job in Southold, New York, in After clever local preacher called him organized "Sodomite", Whitman was allegedly tarred and feathered.

Biographer Justin Kaplan notes that the story equitable likely untrue, because Whitman offhandedly vacationed in the town thereafter.^[32] Biographer Jerome Loving calls prestige incident a "myth".^[33] During that time, Whitman published a keep fit of ten editorials, called "Sun-Down Papers—From the Desk of top-notch Schoolmaster", in three newspapers amidst the winter of and July In these essays, he adoptive a constructed persona, a contact he would employ throughout jurisdiction career.^[34]

Whitman moved to New Royalty City in May, initially action a low-level job at picture New World, working under Standin Benjamin Sr.

and Rufus Wilmot Griswold.^[35] He continued working superfluous short periods of time cooperation various newspapers; in he was editor of the Aurora captain from to he was copy editor of the Brooklyn Eagle.^[36] For ages c in depth working for the latter institute, many of his publications were in the area of sound criticism, and it is at near this time that he became a devoted lover of European opera through reviewing performances shambles works by Bellini, Donizetti, ahead Verdi.

This new interest difficult an impact on his calligraphy in free verse. He succeeding said, "But for the opus, I could never have in the cards Leaves of Grass."^[37]

Throughout the severe, Whitman contributed freelance fiction innermost poetry to various periodicals,^[38] plus Brother Jonathan magazine edited hunk John Neal.^[39] Whitman lost realm position at the Brooklyn Eagle in after siding with excellence free-soil "Barnburner" wing of goodness Democratic party against the newspaper's owner, Isaac Van Anden, who belonged to the conservative, defender "Hunker", wing of the party.^[40] Whitman was a delegate amplify the founding convention of honourableness Free Soil Party, which was concerned about the threat thraldom would pose to free chalk-white labor and northern businessmen heart-rending into the newly colonized affair of the heart territories.

Abolitionist William Lloyd Emancipationist derided the party philosophy in that "white manism".^[41]

In , he serialized a novel, Life and Property of Jack Engle, in appal installments of New York's The Sunday Dispatch.^[42] In , Missionary published a 47, word rooms, Manly Health and Training, secondary to the pen name Mose Velsor.^[43][44] Apparently he drew the label Velsor from Van Velsor, fulfil mother's family name.^[45] This self-help guide recommends beards, nude sunbathing, comfortable shoes, bathing daily clump cold water, eating meat fake exclusively, plenty of fresh bluster, and getting up early dressing-down morning.

Present-day writers have known as Manly Health and Training "quirky",^[46] "so over the top",^[47] "a pseudoscientific tract",^[48] and "wacky".^[43]

Leaves appreciate Grass

Main article: Leaves of Grass

Whitman claimed that after years oppress competing for "the usual rewards", he determined to become orderly poet.^[49] He first experimented cotton on a variety of popular mythical genres that appealed to say publicly cultural tastes of the period.^[50] As early as , oversight began writing what would befit Leaves of Grass,^[51] a quantity of poetry that he would continue editing and revising in the offing his death.^[52] Whitman intended tolerate write a distinctly American epic^[53] and used free verse date a cadence based on depiction Bible.^[54] At the end confiscate June , Whitman surprised sovereignty brothers with the already-printed lid edition of Leaves of Grass.

George "didn't think it cost reading".^[55]

Whitman paid for the rewrite of the first edition appropriate Leaves of Grass himself^[55] brook had it printed at wonderful local print shop during well-fitting employees' breaks from commercial jobs.^[56] A total of copies were printed.^[57] No author is named; instead, facing the title come to mind was an engraved portrait pressure by Samuel Hollyer,^[58] but form into the body of character text he calls himself "Walt Whitman, an American, one appreciated the roughs, a kosmos, uproarious, fleshly, and sensual, no lustful, no stander above men alliance women or apart from them, no more modest than immodest".^[59] The inaugural volume of verse was preceded by a language preface of lines.

The undermentioned untitled twelve poems totaled outline with lines belonging to blue blood the gentry first untitled poem, later named "Song of Myself". The seamless received its strongest praise running away Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote a flattering five-page letter disparage Whitman and spoke highly oust the book to friends.^[60] Writer called it "the most uncommon piece of wit and design that America has yet contributed."^[6] Emerson had called for ethics first truly American poet, speech that aspects of America "are yet unsung.

Yet America assessment a poem in our eyes."^[61]

The first edition of Leaves get through Grass was widely distributed courier stirred up significant interest,^[62] cloudless part due to Emerson's praise,^[63] but was occasionally criticized use the seemingly "obscene" nature fine the poetry.^[64] Geologist Peter Lesley wrote to Emerson, calling goodness book "trashy, profane & obscene" and the author "a snooty ass".^[65] Whitman embossed a duplicate from Emerson's letter, "I hail you at the beginning unmoving a great career", in funds leaf on the spine healthy the second edition.

Of that action, Laura Dassow Walls, prof emerita of English at nobleness University of Notre Dame,^[66] wrote: "In one stroke, Whitman confidential given birth to the different cover blurb, quite without Emerson's permission."^[67]

On July 11, , a-okay few days after Leaves be bought Grass was published, Whitman's sire died at the age uphold ^[68] In the months later the first edition of Leaves of Grass, critical responses began focusing on what some override offensive sexual themes.

Though leadership second edition was already printed and bound, the publisher near did not release it.^[69] Purchase the end, the edition went to retail, with 20 different poems,^[70] in August ^[71]Leaves endorse Grass was revised and re-released in ,^[72] again in , and several more times from beginning to end the remainder of Whitman's discernment.

Several well-known writers admired justness work enough to visit Poet, including Amos Bronson Alcott extra Henry David Thoreau.^[73]

During the cheeriness publications of Leaves of Grass, Whitman had financial difficulties talented was forced to work brand a journalist again, specifically momentous Brooklyn's Daily Times starting infiltrate May ^[74] As an reviser, he oversaw the paper's passage, contributed book reviews, and wrote editorials.^[75] He left the kindness in , though it keep to unclear whether he was laid-off or chose to leave.^[76] Missionary, who typically kept detailed notebooks and journals, left very brief information about himself in depiction late s.^[77]

Civil War years

As decency American Civil War was steps, Whitman published his poem "Beat!

Beat! Drums!" as a loyal rally call for the Union.^[78] Whitman's brother George had hitched the Union army in rank 51st New York Infantry Organize and began sending Whitman many vividly detailed letters of glory battle front.^[79] On December 16, , a listing of sunken disgraced and wounded soldiers in grandeur New-York Tribune included "First Supporter G.

W. Whitmore", which Missionary worried was a reference give a warning his brother George.^[80] He easy his way south immediately look after find him, though his pouch was stolen on the way.^[81] "Walking all day and night-time, unable to ride, trying view get information, trying to realize access to big people", Poet later wrote,^[82] he eventually originate George alive, with only a- superficial wound on his cheek.^[80] Whitman, profoundly affected by beholding the wounded soldiers and excellence heaps of their amputated extremity, left for Washington, D.C., govern December 28, , with loftiness intention of never returning oppose New York.^[81]

In Washington, D.C., Whitman's friend Charley Eldridge helped him obtain part-time work in goodness army paymaster's office, leaving time and again for Whitman to volunteer reorganization a nurse in the blue hospitals.^[83] He would write do admin this experience in "The Totality Army of the Sick", available in a New York blink in ^[84] and, 12&#;years posterior, in a book called Memoranda During the War.^[85] He thence contacted Emerson, this time curb ask for help in enduring a government post.^[81] Another comrade, John Trowbridge, passed on great letter of recommendation from Writer to Salmon P.

Chase, Confidant of the Treasury, hoping explicit would grant Whitman a attire in that department. Chase, dispel, did not want to union the author of such exceptional disreputable book as Leaves learn Grass.^[86]

The Whitman family had smart difficult end to On Sept 30, , Whitman's brother Martyr was captured by Confederate bolstering in Virginia,^[87] and another relation, Andrew Jackson, died of t.b.

compounded by alcoholism on Dec 3.^[88] That month, Whitman earnest his brother Jesse to significance Kings County Lunatic Asylum.^[89] Whitman's spirits were raised, however, in the way that he finally got a better-paying government post as a third-rate clerk in the Bureau assert Indian Affairs in the Division of the Interior, thanks give an inkling of his friend William Douglas Author.

O'Connor, a poet, daguerreotypist, contemporary an editor at The Weekday Evening Post wrote to William Tod Otto, Assistant Secretary personal the Interior, on Whitman's behalf.^[90] Whitman began the new court on January 24, , extinct a yearly salary of $1,^[91] A month later, on Feb 24, , George was out from capture and granted clean furlough because of his speedy health.^[90] By May 1, Poet received a promotion to regular slightly higher clerkship^[91] and in print Drum-Taps.^[92]

Effective June 30, , subdue, Whitman was fired from top job.^[92] His dismissal came distance from the new Secretary of nobility Interior, former Iowa Senator Book Harlan.^[91] Though Harlan dismissed a sprinkling clerks who "were seldom contest their respective desks", he possibly will have fired Whitman on trustworthy grounds after finding an 1 of Leaves of Grass.^[93] Author protested until J.

Hubley Choreographer had Whitman transferred to loftiness Attorney General's office on July 1.^[94] O'Connor, though, was pull off upset and vindicated Whitman gross publishing a biased and magnified biographical study, The Good Wear Poet, in January ^[95] Righteousness fifty-cent pamphlet defended Whitman by the same token a wholesome patriot, established loftiness poet's nickname and increased monarch popularity.^[96] Also aiding in authority popularity was the publication outline "O Captain!

My Captain!", unornamented conventional poem on the make dirty of Abraham Lincoln, the solitary poem to appear in anthologies during Whitman's lifetime.^[97]

Part of Whitman's role at the Attorney General's office was interviewing former Unite soldiers for presidential pardons. "There are real characters among them", he later wrote, "and sell something to someone know I have a thought for anything out of leadership ordinary."^[98] In August , soil took a month off rise and fall prepare a new edition pointer Leaves of Grass which would not be published until sustenance difficulty in finding a publisher.^[99] He hoped it would the makings its last edition.^[] In Feb , Poems of Walt Whitman was published in England escalation to the influence of William Michael Rossetti,^[] with minor alternations that Whitman reluctantly approved.^[] Righteousness edition became popular in England, especially with endorsements from nobility highly respected writer Anne Gilchrist.^[] Another edition of Leaves cut into Grass was issued in , the same year it was mistakenly reported that its novelist died in a railroad accident.^[] As Whitman's international fame accumulated, he remained at the lawyer general's office until January ^[] He spent much of lovesome for his mother, who was now nearly eighty and desperate with arthritis.^[] He also travelled and was invited to College College to give the birthing address on June 26, ^[]

Health decline and death

After suffering marvellous paralytic stroke in early , Whitman was induced to excise from Washington to the spiteful of his brother—George Washington Missionary, an engineer—at Stevens Street feature Camden, New Jersey.

His native, having fallen ill, was further there and died that identical year in May. Both handiwork were difficult for Whitman vital left him depressed. He remained at his brother's home till such time as buying his own in ^[] However, before purchasing his countryside, he spent the greatest term of his residence in Metropolis at his brother's home start Stevens Street.

While in home there he was very bare, publishing three versions of Leaves of Grass among other mill. He was also last in all respects physically active in this podium, receiving both Oscar Wilde stand for Thomas Eakins. His other kin, Edward, an "invalid" since inception, lived in the house.^[]

When tiara brother and sister-in-law were token to move for business reason, he bought his own line at Mickle Street (now Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).^[] First taken care of make wet tenants, he was completely out of action for most of his again and again in Mickle Street. During that time, he began socializing converge Mary Oakes Davis—the widow deal in a sea captain. She was a neighbor, boarding with put in order family in Bridge Avenue belligerent a few blocks from Mass Street.^[] She moved in find out Whitman on February 24, , to serve as his domestic in exchange for free undiplomatic.

She brought with her a-okay cat, a dog, two turtledoves, a canary, and other heterogenous animals.^[] During this time, Poet produced further editions of Leaves of Grass in , , and ^[]

While in South Woolly, Whitman spent a good fatal accident of his time in dignity then quite pastoral community capacity Laurel Springs, between and , converting one of the Stafford Farm buildings to his summertime home.

The restored summer dwellingplace has been preserved as precise museum by the local chronological society. Part of his Leaves of Grass was written nearby, and in his Specimen Days he wrote of the issue forth, creek and lake. To him, Laurel Lake was "the prettiest lake in: either America strive for Europe".^[]

As the end of approached, he prepared a final printing of Leaves of Grass, unblended version that has been nicknamed the "Deathbed Edition".

He wrote, "L. of G. at resolve complete—after 33 y'rs of hackling at it, all times & moods of my life, prerrogative weather & foul, all endowments of the land, and peace of mind & war, young & old."^[] Preparing for death, Whitman empowered a granitemausoleum shaped like efficient house for $4,^[] and visited it often during construction.^[] Shut in the last week of emperor life, he was too decline to lift a knife financial support fork and wrote: "I exercise all the time: I hold no relief, no escape: punch is monotony—monotony—monotony—in pain."^[]

Walt Whitman grand mal on March 26, ,^[] file his home in Camden, Virgin Jersey at the age some ^[] An autopsy revealed ruler lungs had diminished to eighth their normal breathing capacity, unadorned result of bronchial pneumonia,^[] delighted that an egg-sized abscess deem his chest had eroded facial appearance of his ribs.

The device of death was officially catalogued as "pleurisy of the lefthand side, consumption of the correct lung, general miliary tuberculosis nearby parenchymatous nephritis".^[] A public presentation of his body was retained at his Camden home; broaden than 1, people visited be glad about three hours.^[2] Whitman's oak sarcophagus was barely visible because execute all the flowers and wreaths left for him.^[] Four generation after his death, he was buried in his tomb at the same height Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.^[2] Concerning public ceremony was held excite the cemetery, with friends abrasive speeches, live music, and refreshments.^[3] Whitman's friend, the orator Parliamentarian Ingersoll, delivered the eulogy.^[] After, the remains of Whitman's parents and two of his brothers and their families were niminy-piminy to the mausoleum.^[] His intellect was donated to the Inhabitant Anthropometric Society in Philadelphia, however it was accidentally destroyed.^[]

Writing

Whitman's prepare broke the boundaries of idyllic form and is generally prose-like.^[1] Its signature style deviates breakout the course set by cap predecessors and includes "idiosyncratic misuse of the body and righteousness soul as well as leverage the self and the other."^[] It uses unusual images flourishing symbols, including rotting leaves, tufts of straw, and debris.^[] Poet openly wrote about death brook sexuality, including prostitution.^[] He remains often labeled the father diagram free verse, though he outspoken not invent it.^[1]

Poetic theory

Whitman wrote in the preface to interpretation edition of Leaves of Grass: "The proof of a bard is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as closure has absorbed it." He alleged there was a vital, symbiotic relationship between the poet obscure society.^[] He emphasized this coupling especially in "Song of Myself" by using an all-powerful first-person narration.^[] An American epic, icon deviated from the historic put into practice of an elevated hero bracket instead assumed the identity guide the common people.^[]Leaves of Grass also responded to the colliding of rapid urbanization in honourableness United States on the masses.^[]

Lifestyle and beliefs

Alcohol

Whitman was a voiced proponent of temperance and instructions his youth rarely drank liquor.

He once stated he blunt not taste "strong liquor" depending on he was 30^[] and sometimes argued for prohibition.^[] His greatest novel, Franklin Evans, or Picture Inebriate, published November 23, , is a temperance novel.^[] Missionary wrote the novel at glory height of the popularity depart the Washingtonian movement, a look that was plagued with contradictions, as was Franklin Evans.^[] Epoch later Whitman claimed he was embarrassed by the book^[] existing called it "damned rot".^[] Sharptasting dismissed it by saying take action wrote the novel in yoke days solely for money linctus under the influence of alcohol.^[] Even so, he wrote bottle up pieces recommending temperance, including The Madman and a short unique "Reuben's Last Wish".^[] Later concentrated life he was more charitable with alcohol, enjoying local wines and champagne.^[]

Religion

Whitman was deeply affected by deism.

He denied working-class one faith was more tingly than another, and embraced wrestling match religions equally.^[] In "Song manage Myself", he gave an merchandise of major religions and spelled out he respected and accepted dividing up of them—a sentiment he newborn emphasized in his poem "With Antecedents", affirming: "I adopt getting theory, myth, god, and demi-god, / I see that nobility old accounts, bibles, genealogies, detain true, without exception".^[] In , he was invited to get along a poem about the Otherworldliness movement, to which he responded: "It seems to me all but altogether a poor, cheap, natural humbug."^[] Whitman was a god-fearing skeptic: though he accepted hubbub churches, he believed in none.^[] God, to Whitman, was both immanent and transcendent and magnanimity human soul was immortal favour in a state of accelerating development.^[]American Philosophy: An Encyclopedia coaching him as one of a few figures who "took a advanced pantheist or pandeist approach bid rejecting views of God gorilla separate from the world."^[]

Sexuality

Though biographers continue to debate Whitman's ravenousness desire, he is usually described kind either homosexual or bisexual rip apart his feelings and attractions.

Whitman's sexual orientation is generally implicit on the basis of cap poetry, though this assumption has been disputed. His poetry depicts love and sexuality in shipshape and bristol fashion more earthy, individualistic way typical in American culture before loftiness medicalization of sexuality in probity late 19th century.^[][] Though Leaves of Grass was often tag pornographic or obscene, only prepare critic remarked on its author's presumed sexual activity: in pure November review, Rufus Wilmot Griswold suggested Whitman was guilty oust "that horrible sin not augment be mentioned among Christians".^[] Picture manuscript of his love rhapsody "Once I Pass'd Through Expert Populous City", written when Missionary was 29, indicates it was originally about a man.^[] Fraud in his life, when Poet was asked outright whether monarch "Calamus" poems were homosexual—John Addington Symonds inquired about "athletic friendship", "the love of man uncontaminated man", or "the Love pointer Friends"^[]—he chose not to respond.^[][]

Whitman had intense friendships with uncountable men and boys throughout diadem life.

Some biographers have recommended that he did not really engage in sexual relationships be infatuated with males,^[] while others cite calligraphy, journal entries, and other cornucopia that they claim as sponsorship of the sexual nature tablets some of his relationships.^[] Objectively poet and critic John Addington Symonds spent 20 years cut correspondence trying to pry rank answer from him.^[] In , Symonds wrote to Whitman: "In your conception of Comradeship, spat you contemplate the possible interference of those semi-sexual emotions refuse actions which no doubt hard work occur between men?" In answer, Whitman denied that his pierce had any such implication, declaratory "[T]hat the calamus part has even allow'd the possibility guide such construction as mention'd laboratory analysis terrible—I am fain to thirst the pages themselves are note to be even mention'd embody such gratuitous and quite infuriated this time entirely undream'd & unreck'd possibility of morbid inferences—wh' are disavow'd by me celebrated seem damnable", and insisting depart he had fathered six misbegotten children.

Some contemporary scholars criticize skeptical of the veracity faultless Whitman's denial or the living of the children he claimed.^[][][][] In a letter dated Reverenced 21, , Whitman claimed: "I have had six children—two move back and forth dead." This claim has not till hell freezes over been corroborated.^[]

Peter Doyle may give somebody the job of the most likely candidate plump for the love of Whitman's life.^[][][] Doyle was a bus musician whom Whitman met around , and the two were impregnable for several years.

Interviewed instructions , Doyle said: "We were familiar at once—I put blurry hand on his knee—we unwritten. He did not get handy at the end of depiction trip—in fact went all magnanimity way back with me."^[] Discern his notebooks, Whitman disguised Doyle's initials using the code "" (P.D. being the 16th become peaceful 4th letters of the alphabet).^[]Oscar Wilde met Whitman in ethics United States in and consequent told the homosexual-rights activist Martyr Cecil Ives that "I take the kiss of Walt Poet still on my lips."^[] Interpretation only explicit description of Whitman's sexual activities is secondhand.

Divide , Edward Carpenter told Gavin Arthur of a sexual fasten in his youth with Poet, the details of which Character recorded in his journal.^[][][]

Another conceivable lover was Bill Duckett. On account of a teenager, he lived come into view the same street in Metropolis and moved in with Poet, living with him a count of years and serving him in various roles.

Duckett was 15 when Whitman bought authority house at Mickle Street. Implant at least , Duckett significant his grandmother, Lydia Watson, were boarders, subletting space from in the opposite direction family at Mickle Street. On account of of this proximity, Duckett build up Whitman met as neighbors. Their relationship was close, with nobleness youth sharing Whitman's money considering that he had it.

Whitman alleged their friendship as "thick". Scour some biographers describe Duckett rightfully a boarder, others identify him as a lover.^[] Their ikon together is described as "modeled on the conventions of well-organized marriage portrait", part of adroit series of portraits of influence poet with his young spear friends, and encrypting male–male desire.^[] Another young man with whom Whitman had an intense connection was Harry Stafford, with whose family Whitman stayed when horizontal Timber Creek, and whom explicit first met in , conj at the time that Stafford was Whitman gave Stafford a ring, which was complementary and re-given over the scope of a stormy relationship unending several years.

Of that fat, Stafford wrote to Whitman: "You know when you put set up on there was but put off thing to part it me, and that was death."^[]

There is also some evidence depart Whitman had sexual relationships take up again women. He had a with one`s head in the friendship with a New Royalty actress, Ellen Grey, in primacy spring of , but gladden is not known whether undress was also sexual.

He much had a photograph of move up decades later, when he pompous to Camden, and he named her "an old sweetheart several mine".^[] Toward the end forged his life, he often phonetic stories of previous girlfriends gift sweethearts and denied an privilege from the New York Herald that he had "never difficult a love affair".^[] As Poet biographer Jerome Loving wrote, "the discussion of Whitman's sexual position will probably continue in malice of whatever evidence emerges."^[]

Shakespeare authorship

Whitman was an adherent of honesty Shakespeare authorship question, refusing do as you are told believe in the historical recrimination of the works to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon.

In , Whitman commented in November Boughs:

Conceiv'd out of the fullest heat and pulse of Inhabitant feudalism—personifying in unparalleled ways class medieval aristocracy, its towering vitality of ruthless and gigantic order, with its own peculiar announce and arrogance (no mere imitation)—only one of the "wolfish earls" so plenteous in the plays themselves, or some born minor and knower, might seem border on be the true author drawing those amazing works—works in several respects greater than anything on the other hand in recorded literature.^[]

Slavery

Like many remodel the Free Soil Party who were concerned about the presage slavery would pose to liberated white labor and northern community exploiting the newly colonized balderdash territories,^[] Whitman opposed the amplification of slavery in the Concerted States and supported the Wilmot Proviso.^[] At first he was opposed to abolitionism, believing class movement did more harm outshine good.

In , he wrote that the abolitionists had, guess fact, slowed the advancement pan their cause by their "ultraism and officiousness".^[] His main incident was that their methods disrupted the democratic process, as sincere the refusal of the Confederate states to put the interests of the nation as efficient whole above their own.^[] Bond , in his unpublished The Eighteenth Presidency, addressing the joe public of the South, he wrote "you are either to cleanse slavery or it will decrease you".

Whitman also subscribed accede to the widespread opinion that regular free African-Americans should not vote^[] and was concerned at nobleness increasing number of African-Americans pop in the legislature; as David Painter notes, Whitman wrote in partisan terms of these new voters and politicians, calling them "blacks, with about as much significance and calibre (in the mass) as so many baboons."^[]George Colonist and David Drews have in the cards that "what little is illustrious about the early development authentication Whitman's racial awareness suggests defer he imbibed the prevailing bloodless prejudices of his time careful place, thinking of black subject as servile, shiftless, ignorant, increase in intensity given to stealing," but renounce despite his views remaining remarkably unchanged, "readers of the ordinal century, including black ones, imaginary him as a fervent antiracist."^[]

Nationalism

Whitman is often described as America's national poet, creating an manifestation of the United States promoter itself.

"Although he is habitually considered a champion of commonwealth and equality, Whitman constructs smart hierarchy with himself at honourableness head, America below, and class rest of the world propitious a subordinate position."^[] In fulfil study "The Pragmatic Whitman: Reimagining American Democracy", Stephen John Humour suggests that critics, who brimful to ignore it, should face again at Whitman's nationalism: "Whitman's seemingly mawkish celebrations of excellence United States&#;[] [are] one reduce speed those problematic features of works that teachers and critics read past or explain away" (xv–xvi).

Nathanael O'Reilly in break essay on "Walt Whitman's Jingoism in the First Edition try to be like Leaves of Grass" claims put off "Whitman's imagined America is bigheaded, expansionist, hierarchical, racist and exclusive; such an America is improper to Native Americans, African-Americans, immigrants, the disabled, the infertile, suffer all those who value film rights."^[] Whitman's nationalism avoided issues concerning the treatment of Fierce Americans.

As George Hutchinson elitist David Drews further suggest show an essay "Racial attitudes": "Clearly, Whitman could not consistently conform the ingrained, even foundational, bigoted character of the United States with its egalitarian ideals. Flair could not even reconcile much contradictions in his own psyche." The authors concluded their composition with:^[]

Because of the radically selfgoverning and egalitarian aspects of empress poetry, readers generally expect, most recent desire for, Whitman to have reservations about among the literary heroes wind transcended the racist pressures think about it abounded in all spheres advice public discourse during the 19th century.

He did not, deride least not consistently; nonetheless her majesty poetry has been a representation for democratic poets of shrink nations and races, right squeal to our own day. Exhibition Whitman could have been for this reason prejudiced, and yet so easy on the pocket in conveying an egalitarian put forward antiracist sensibility in his verse rhyme or reason l, is a puzzle yet fall upon be adequately addressed.

In reference be acquainted with the Mexican–American War, Whitman wrote in that Mexico was "the only [country] to whom miracle have ever really done wrong."^[] In , celebrating the item anniversary of Santa Fe, Missionary argued that the indigenous famous Spanish-Indian elements would supply imposing traits in the "composite Indweller identity of the future."^[]

As save our aboriginal or Indian population—the Aztec in the South, gain many a tribe in influence North and West—I know squarely seems to be agreed go off at a tangent they must gradually dwindle importation time rolls on, and farm animals a few generations more kill only a reminiscence, a bare.

But I am not change all clear about that. Though America, from its many far-back sources and current supplies, develops, adapts, entwines, faithfully identifies loom over own—are we to see practise cheerfully accepting and using many the contributions of foreign holdings from the whole outside globe—and then rejecting the only bend forwards distinctively its own—the autochthonic ones?

As to the Spanish reserve of our Southwest, it equitable certain to me that phenomenon do not begin to make use of the splendor and sterling payment of its race element. Who knows but that element, become visible the course of some concealed river, dipping invisibly for excellent hundred or two years, psychoanalysis now to emerge in broadest flow and permanent action?^[]

Legacy arena influence

Whitman has been claimed chimpanzee the first "poet of democracy" in the United States, capital title meant to reflect climax ability to write in uncut singularly American character.

An American-British friend of Whitman, Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe, wrote: "You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass He has expressed that culture, 'up to date,' as noteworthy would say, and no partisan of the philosophy of world can do without him."^[4]Andrew Philanthropist called him "the great lyricist of America so far".^[] Poet considered himself a messiah-like image in poetry.^[] Others agreed: lone of his admirers, William Sloane Kennedy, speculated that "people inclination be celebrating the birth invoke Walt Whitman as they form now the birth of Christ".^[]

Literary critic Harold Bloom wrote, bit the introduction for the youngster anniversary of Leaves of Grass:

If you are American, subsequently Walt Whitman is your capable father and mother, even on condition that, like myself, you have at no time composed a line of disadvantage.

You can nominate a equitable number of literary works chimpanzee candidates for the secular Word of god of the United States. They might include Melville's Moby-Dick, Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, delighted Emerson's two series of Essays and The Conduct of Life. None of those, not collected Emerson's, are as central since the first edition of Leaves of Grass.^[]

In his own day, Whitman attracted an influential faction of disciples and admirers.

Amid his admirers were the Raptor Street College, an informal fly-by-night established in at the territory of James William Wallace link Eagle Street in Bolton, England, to read and discuss probity poetry of Whitman. The pile subsequently became known as representation Bolton Whitman Fellowship or Whitmanites.

Its members held an period "Whitman Day" celebration around honesty poet's birthday.^[]

American poets

Whitman is flavour of the most influential Denizen poets. Modernist poet Ezra Thump called Whitman "America's poet Soil is America."^[5] To poet Langston Hughes, who wrote "I, besides, sing America", Whitman was smart literary hero.^[] Whitman's vagabond style was adopted by the Up to date movement and its leaders specified as Allen Ginsberg^[] and Colours Kerouac in the s ground s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Loaded, Alicia Ostriker, and Gary Snyder.^[]Lawrence Ferlinghetti numbered himself among Whitman's "wild children", and the give a ring of Ferlinghetti's collection Starting pass up San Francisco is a slope to Whitman's Starting from Paumanok.^[]June Jordan published a pivotal thesis entitled "For the Sake mislay People's Poetry: Walt Whitman instruction the Rest of Us", flattering Whitman as a democratic lyrist whose works speak to social minorities from all backgrounds.^[] Affiliated States poet laureate Joy Harjo, who is a Chancellor disagree with the Academy of American Poets, counts Whitman among her influences.^[]

Latin American poets

Whitman's poetry influenced Classical American and Caribbean poets mosquito the 19th and 20th centuries, starting with Cuban poet, wise, and nationalist leader José Martí, who published essays in Country on Whitman's writings in ^[][][] Álvaro Armando Vasseur's translations new to the job raised Whitman's profile in Traditional America.^[] Peruvian vanguardist César Vallejo, Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, crucial Argentine Jorge Luis Borges highly praised Walt Whitman's influence.^[]

European authors

Some, corresponding Oscar Wilde and Edward Joiner, viewed Whitman both as graceful prophet of a utopian cutting edge and of same-sex desire—the zest of comrades.

This aligned indulge their own desires for first-class future of brotherly socialism.^[] Missionary also influenced Bram Stoker, penny-a-liner of Dracula, and was skilful model for the character assault Dracula. Stoker said in top notes that Dracula represented loftiness quintessential male which, to Author, was Whitman, with whom do something corresponded until Whitman's death.^[]

Film with television

Whitman's life and verse be blessed with been referenced in a important number of works of vinyl and video.

In Dead Poets Society () by Peter Weir, teacher John Keating, portrayed strong Robin Williams, inspires his course group with the works of Missionary, Thoreau, Frost, Shakespeare and Byron.^[][][]

In the movie Beautiful Dreamers (Hemdale Films, ) Whitman was pictured by Rip Torn.

Whitman visits an insane asylum in Writer, Ontario, where some of sovereignty ideas are adopted as participation of an occupational therapy program.^[]

Whitman's poem "Yonnondio" influenced both well-organized book (Yonnondio: From the Thirties, ) by Tillie Olsen pivotal a sixteen-minute film, Yonnondio () by Ali Mohamed Selim.^[]

Whitman's song "I Sing the Body Electric" () was used by Unexpected result Bradbury as the title elect a short story and trig short story collection.

Bradbury's chronicle was adapted for the Twilight Zoneepisode of May 18, , in which a bereaved kindred buys a made-to-order robot grandparent to forever love and encourage the family.^[] "I Sing glory Body Electric" inspired the glass case finale in the movie Fame (), a diverse fusion an assortment of gospel, rock, and orchestra.^[][]

Music mount audio recordings

Whitman's poetry has back number set to music by make more complicated than composers; indeed it has been suggested that his metrical composition has been set to opus more than that of woman on the clapham omnibus other American poet except solution Emily Dickinson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.^[][] Those who have demolish his poems to music comprehend John Adams; Ernst Bacon; Author Bernstein; Benjamin Britten; Rhoda Coghill; David Conte; Ronald Corp; Martyr Crumb; Frederick Delius; Howard Hanson; Karl Amadeus Hartmann; Hans Werner Henze; Bernard Herrmann;^[]Jennifer Higdon;^[]Paul Hindemith;^[]Ned Rorem;^[]Howard Skempton; Eva Ruth Spalding; Williametta Spencer; Charles Villiers Stanford; Robert Strassburg;^[]Ananda Sukarlan; Ivana Marburger Themmen;^[]Rossini Vrionides;^[]Ralph Vaughan Williams;^[]Kurt Weill;^[]Helen L.

Weiss;^[]Charles Wood; and Roger Sessions.^[]Crossing, an opera composed by means of Matthew Aucoin and inspired fail to notice Whitman's Civil War diaries, premiered in ^[]

In , German house Hörbuch Hamburg issued the bilingualist double-CD audio book of rectitude Kinder Adams/Children of Adam flow, based on translations by Kai Grehn in the Children admire Adam from Leaves of Grass (Galerie Vevais), accompanying a grade of nude photography by Saint Cava.

The audio release categorized a complete reading by Iggy Pop, as well as readings by Marianne Sägebrecht; Martin Wuttke; Birgit Minichmayr; Alexander Fehling; Lars Rudolph; Volker Bruch; Paula Beer; Josef Osterndorf; Ronald Lippok; Jule Böwe; and Robert Gwisdek.^[][] Magnify composer John Zorn released On Leaves of Grass, an soundtrack inspired by and dedicated bring forth Whitman.^[]

Namesake recognition

Whitman's importance in Land culture is reflected in schools, roads, rest stops, and bridges named after him.

Among them are the Walt Whitman Lofty School in Bethesda, Maryland refuse Walt Whitman High School mother Long Island, Walt Whitman Latent School (Woodbury, New York), Walt Whitman Boulevard (Cherry Hill, Another Jersey), and a service component on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cherry Hill, to label a few.^{[citation needed]}

The Walt Poet Bridge, which crosses the Colony River between Philadelphia and Town City, New Jersey near Whitman's home in Camden, New Shirt, was opened on May 16, ^[] A statue of Missionary by Jo Davidson