To Walt Whitman, America

To Walt Whitman, America

by Kenneth M. Price

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Walt Whitman burst upon the literary scene in 1855 with the first publication of "Leaves of Grass." The world of literature would never be the same again. Whitman sang a song of America, but as Kenneth Price's study shows, Whitman's words have taken on a life of their own.

"Seeking Whitman," Price says, "one can find him everywhere." His words appear in speeches, films, books, and beyond. In their various forms, his words have influenced the works of Edith Wharton, D.H. Lawrence, John Dos Passos, and others. He stands as a model for every American. He stands on the street. He stands with prostitutes and with freed slaves. He is broad and all-encompassing, incorporating the best and the worst.

In his inclusiveness, Whitman is inspirational. He's not just one man. He represents the masses. He "is America," as Ezra Pound once said. In this study, Price explores how Whitman has been completed absorbed, and is now reinvented into new forms of expression.

Passing, Fluidity, and American Identities

Whitman is an ever-evolving, ever-changing enigma; and "Leaves of Grass" is a living document. The author and his collection of words continue to accrue meaning. The text, the author, and the myths are never stagnant or stale. Each new reader brings something new to Whitman, but the reader takes much more away. "Those who have talked back to Whitman," Price says, "have responded to (and have helped construct) different Whitmans, as the ongoing reception of 'Leave of Grass' evolves through its varied and strange history."

As Price demonstrates, Whitman is a recurring starting point. He is a "rewriteable," malleable text, as we continue to rethink "the meanings of America." Whitman becomes an irresistible, too tantalizing, reminder of how literature and life can become inexplicably interwoven. Whitman was never perfect in his literary musings, but his inconsistencies make him all the more memorable, as he encompasses all--the past, present, and future. Whitman still captures our imaginations, helping us to explore new possibilities. As Price explains: "Whitman's malleability, explorations of passing, and centrality as an icon have made him irresistible for writers who, in extraordinarily creative ways, reinvent him for their purpose."