Walt Whitman stands as a pioneering figure in American literature, crafting a new language that encapsulated the ethos of democracy and shaped the perception of a burgeoning nation. His works continue to ignite the American imagination, reflecting the ideals and complexities of the continent. Often regarded as the first true poet of American English, Whitman's influence on the literary landscape is both profound and enduring.

Early Life and Influences

Born in a modest cedar-shingled house on Long Island, Walt Whitman entered the world in a year shared by literary contemporaries Herman Melville and James Russell Lowell, as well as the exact birth year of Queen Victoria. The Whitman family had democratic and nonconformist leanings; Walt’s father, born on the day of the Bastille's storming in 1789, instilled radical democratic values in his children. Identifying with farmers and laborers, he held financiers and power brokers in disdain. From his mother's Dutch Quaker roots, Whitman acquired a blend of practical and transcendent thinking, which he believed influenced his creative instincts.

In 1823, the Whitman family relocated from Long Island to Brooklyn, a city that was rapidly becoming a significant urban center. However, due to his father's lack of business acumen, the family frequently moved, chasing prosperity that remained elusive. Walt, an indifferent student but an avid reader, began working at the Long Island Patriot as a printer’s apprentice in 1831. This early career was disrupted by economic instability and familial discord, leading him to teach in rural schools, where his volatile temper often clashed with school authorities.

Despite maintaining close familial ties, Whitman sought his independence, immersing himself in the vibrant culture of New York City. Tall and robust, he exuded a rugged masculinity tempered by a gentler, more refined presence as noted by his friend John Burroughs. By 1848, Whitman had worked with numerous newspapers, most notably editing the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. His political activities and anti-slavery stance led to his dismissal from the newspaper. However, connections in journalism facilitated a brief editorial role at the New Orleans Crescent, marking his first southern sojourn. Returning to New York, Whitman attempted to establish himself as a lecturer, but found little public interest.

Professional Growth and Literary Ambitions

In the late 1840s and early 1850s, Whitman dabbled in real estate and engaged with New York’s intellectual scene. He mingled with artists and thinkers, attended influential lectures, and explored emerging scientific and philosophical ideas. This period of intellectual ferment laid the groundwork for his magnum opus, Leaves of Grass, which he began planning seriously in 1847 and started writing in earnest by 1854. Whitman found no poetic guide among his contemporaries and thus crafted a unique style that married form to content, embodying Henry David Thoreau’s notion of poetry as "healthy speech."

Whitman registered the copyright for Leaves of Grass on May 15, 1855, shortly before his thirty-sixth birthday, after laboriously revising and typesetting the work himself. The inaugural edition featured 795 copies, primarily in cloth bindings, with a now-iconic frontispiece depicting Whitman with hand on hip and hat askew. In the work, he boldly declared himself "Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos." His subsequent promotion of the book included sending a copy to Ralph Waldo Emerson, who responded with laudatory praise, recognizing the work's innovation. This endorsement helped offset harsher critiques and spurred Whitman to prepare a second edition, incorporating new poems like "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry."

War Years and Continuing Influence

The outbreak of the Civil War profoundly affected Whitman. While enamored by Lincoln and the Union cause, he opted for service as a nurse rather than a soldier, tending to the wounded in New York and later joining his brother in Virginia. His war experiences, coupled with an intense drive for involvement, led to significant personal and professional challenges, including a physical collapse in 1864. Nonetheless, he secured a clerk position in Washington D.C., where he continued to write and publish.

Post-war, Whitman published Drum Taps, with "O Captain! My Captain!" gaining notable acclaim. Although his work increasingly found appreciation in Europe, domestic recognition lagged. Despite personal struggles, including multiple strokes, Whitman remained committed to his craft and produced a centennial edition of Leaves of Grass in 1875. His reflections on the natural world and wartime experiences were later published in Specimen Days and Collect.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is hailed as a milestone in American poetry, marking a transition from romanticism to modernism. His assertion of American cultural identity challenged the prevailing European literary dominance, celebrating uniquely American themes and forms. Embracing the beauty of ordinary life, Whitman closed the gap between poetry and the public, advocating for social liberty and individual freedom.

Whitman’s work embodies a universal empathy, rooted in Christian principles but transcending religious boundaries, reflecting an inclusive worldview. Despite criticisms of immorality from some quarters, his vision of America as a nation poised on the open road remains a potent symbol of freedom and innovation. As Guy Davenport observed, Whitman is woven into the national myth, his poetry capturing the essence of America’s "greatest invention in literature."

Further Reading

For a deeper understanding of Whitman’s life and literary contributions, several works offer valuable insights. Gay Wilson Allen’s The Solitary Singer provides a critical biography connecting his life and art, while Justin Kaplan’s Walt Whitman: A Life delivers a comprehensive analysis of his influence. Thomas L. Brasher’s study on Whitman’s journalistic endeavors sheds light on the broader social context influencing his work. For those interested in Whitman’s poetic evolution, James E. Miller, Jr.'s examination of "Song of Myself" delves into his mystical themes.