Oh, Walt Whitman, what a past you have..
Permalink for this paragraph 0 For my history engine and new historicism paper, I initally struggled in finding a work of literature that I was interested in, could be read in light of a specific historical context, and pertained to a highly specific event within this historical context.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Of course, it helps to stick with American history, as your assignment stiuplates and not attempt Irish history… (although I did learn a lot about Yeats and the Easter Rising of 1916 in Dublin, Ireland!)
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Regardless, after contemplating a few Norton Anthologies and some bookshelves at home, I revisted the grand Walt Whitman and remembered that a portion of his poems in Leaves of Grass revolve around Whitman’s time as a self-appointed nurse for wounded soldiers during the Civil War.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Settling on “The Wound Dresser” as my poem of choice, I decided to investigate the particulars of Whitman’s war-time experience. Interestingly, while I could have chosen an event like a battle (such as Fredericksburg) or the precedence of male nurses during the war, I looked at the history of Washington D.C.’s military hospitals, specifically Armory Square hospital where Whitman spent much of his time.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Some of the resources I found included a self-produced hospital newspaper titled Armory Square Gazette which was a detailed account of the inner-workings of Armory. Armory in particular has a fascinating history because of its location. Near steamboat and railroad access, Armory was situated so that many soldiers grievously wounded from Virginia’s battlefields went to Armory first, and therefore the hospital had to treat some of most terrible soldier casualties.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Perhaps (I am working on this analysis for the paper..its acomin! a work in progress..) because Armory was the hospital with such horrifying casualties and high death rates, perhaps because of this Whitman was particularly inspired and especially moved–his lamentations in “Wound Dresser” and his sorrowful tone and disillusionment with the war can stem from his first-hand experience at Armory.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 I particularly like new historicism as a criticism, because I feel the connections I am starting to form between the poem and the time period are more well-founded; I’m not just speculating or assuming.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 I also think that while fantasy and fiction works have their place (I love them and they will always be impactful) I think seeing the history and the culture, the thinkings and innerworkings of a different time only strengthen the message of literature and make it more powerful than invented works. I see “Wound Dresser” now as more of a sort of story-telling, a journal entry made art, that constitutes how a man lived and experienced the Civil War from the side of caretaker and not soldier.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 While Whitman may indeed be a controversial figure (love him or despise him or just be confuzzled by him), by looking at the historical context in which “Wound Dresser” is written we can see a universal message of the perils of war and a complicated pride, love, and sorrow for the soldiers who fought in it.
I find it interesting you chose Walt Whitman for your New Historicism piece. I remember reading Leaves of Grass in my American Literature course and found the piece dreadful! Then again, everyone exhibits different tastes. I never knew this work revolved around Whitman’s time as a self-appointed nurse for wounded soldiers during the Civil War. I find that interesting and definitely can be applied to various ideas throughout the text. This may be applicable, may not be, but it is noted that Whitman was homosexual whether this influenced his text or not one could argue. Through his expression of equality he indicates acceptance among the races, but couldn’t this be applied to all indvidiuals? I am not sure if this could influence your New Historicism piece but a little blurb from the text I found supporting equality exemplifies when Whiteman states, “Growing among black folks as among white, Kanuck, Tuckahoe, Congressman, Cuff, I give them the same, I receive the same” (6.108-110). Here is a small, yet, significant mention of Whitman’s views on groups. No matter whom one resides next to, accept people all the same. Now, it is easier to say that than to actually put those actions into motion. The largest and biggest indication of Whitman’s portrayal of the American masses is described in lines 335-345. One example of this is found in line 335:“A Southerner soon as a Northerner, a planter nonchalant and hospitable down by the Oconee I live” (16.335). In his attempt to impose a certain harmonious peace, Whitman here is describing that there is no difference between individuals. In addition, differences lurk within all Americans which are unseen on the outside by society’s judging eyes. It would be ideal for us to all congregate together as one, but this is not an ideal world.