A Speculative Approach: November 2011

The role of women in the Civil War as seen through Whitman's Drum-Taps collection...

Having a hard time figuring out what I am trying to say on this subject. I know I have something to say, but I really can't figure out what it is!

Anonymous. "Drum Taps.—Walt Whitman." Watson's Weekly Art Journal (4 November 1865): 34-5. http://www.whitmanarchive.org/criticism/reviews/drumtaps/anc.00052.html

“In all human organizations, whether those of personal or of national life, there is the moment of consciousness as self, as individual—a moment full of original force.”
Compares Whitman and the artist Ward as having similar intentions. Not all that useful.

Howells, W. D. "Drum-Taps." The Round Table 2 (11 November 1865): 147-8. http://www.whitmanarchive.org/criticism/reviews/drumtaps/anc.00053.html

“The reader understands, doubtless, from the title, that nearly all these pieces relate to the war; and they celebrate many of the experiences of the author in the noble part he took in the war. One imagines that burly tenderness of the man who went to supply the / "——lack of woman's nursing" / that there was in the hospitals of the field, and woman's tears creep unconsciously to the eyes as the pity of his heart communicates itself to his reader's.”
“We must not mistake this fascination for a higher quality. In the tender eyes of an ox lurks a melancholy, soft and pleasing to the glance as the pensive sweetness of a woman's eyes; but in the orb of the brute there is no hope of expression, and in the woman's look there is the endless delight of history, the heavenly; possibility of utterance.”
Whitman’s poetry is not deep enough and does not go beyond conscious utterances. Is not considered a true poet. Useful for mention to women.

Krieg, Joann P. Walt Whitman and the Prostitutes. http://proxy.library.siue.edu:2215/journals/literature_and_medicine/v014/14.1krieg.html

Women are not ignored in Whitman's work as they are, for the most part, in the works of Herman Melville and Henry David Thoreau. In fact, Whitman has escaped feminist attack largely because the many gestures of inclusiveness--of race, class, and gender--in the poems confirm his assertion that he was "the poet of the woman the same as the man."
Whitman's ideal woman was first and always a mother, and most of his concern for the improvement of woman's lot in his America stemmed from his expectation of "perfect women, indispensible to endow the birth-stock of the New World."
Still very much under the cultural influence of environmentalism, he allows the image of body as house to diffuse and become attached to other architectural structures--domestic dwellings, houses of government and church--structures that represent the basic institutions of society, all of which have shaped his culturally determined perception.
Whitman was confused by the role of the prostitute, almost fascinated. Article claims that Whitman frequently talks about women.
Body as house or building.

Research based on his work in the journals and periodicals of the day.
“Clearly, it was patriotic to publish poetry; and publication in the periodicals led a fortunate poet to book publication” 5.
Mentions that some of the Drum Taps poems were previewed in journals and periodicals beforehand.

Ertan, Deniz. “When Men and Mountains Meet: Ruggles, Whitman, and Their Landscapes”

Seemes to be quite useful for my paper.
“Before examining the poetry itself, I think it necessary totouch on his notion of female superiority as presentd in his prose writngs and place it into the context of nineteenth centurey American social thought” 29.
Questioning the acceptance of Whitman's use of the mother. Some feminists jumped on the Whitman bandwagon back when Feminism was just starting. Now, with more experience, they feel that his approach to women is more superficial and fake (for lack of better word choice).

Graham, Rosemary. "The Prostitute in the Garden: Walt Whitman, 'Fanny Hill', and the Fantasy of Female Pleasure"

Whitman seemed to really struggle in placing the prostitiute in his ideal America - he did not agree with her job; however, he did agree with her interest in motherhood and sexuality. He was fascinated with the prostitute.

Clarke, Frances M. "Forgetting the Women: Debates over Female Patriotism in the Aftermath of America's Civil War."

The Civil War procured the most femal involvement of any war before it. While this was important for a time, soon it became glossed over and history featured only the roles of white men.
Work of Frank Moore is most influential

Finding this collection of WHitman essays has been fantastic! This one is particularly interesting as it examines much of the contradiction to my paper. Loving talks frequently about women and Whitman from his other poems, but never mentions Drum-Taps.

Reyonlds, David S. “Whitman and Nineteenth-Century Views of Gender and Sexuality.” Mickle Street Review.

Another great essay.
This one is working well as a source for possibly what influenced Whitman's writing styles.
I am contemplating the idea that perhaps Whitman's Drum-Taps, which was so much emotionally fueled, allows us a glimpse at a Whitman who is less impressioned by outsiders. Allowing us a clearer glimpse into his realistic views of women.

THis work looks at Drum-Taps in an interestig way.
Mostly not helpful, but he does talk about the mother in "Come Up from the Fields Father".
His own examination also points out that the pain in the poem is delivered by the reading of the letter, not the physical pain of the wounded soldier.

A Speculative Approach