Walt Whitman's view of the Civil War

Like near of the unprepared, naïve Americans who believed the Civil struggle would consist of a few short employments and little casualties, who then after the fight reached its second year truly saw the Civil War for what it really was- the bloodiest in Americas history; Walt Whitmans Drum Taps represents this ideal from start to finish. From the wars archetypal battle in 1861 when Whitman saw the endeavor as a chance for the North to put to rest all of the uplift the South created, to the see-saw battles and first hand knowledge of the detriments war could create, the poets bearing evolved. Though many poems in Drum Taps is indicative of this development, The Wound Dresser is the topper lawsuit of the author looking back upon his own sign opinions of the war, while stationed at a field hospital carrying his up-to-the-minute and final thoughts regarding what he held as an unnecessary encounter.

However, to understand the contrasts in the midst of his first, then ultimately conclusive belief, one must consider into his earlier works.



In the first poem of Drum Taps, First O Songs For A Prelude the poem indicates to the reader that Whitman is staunchly enthusiastic towards the first battle:                           

        The tumultuous escort, the ranks of policemen preceding,

        clearing the way, The unpent enthusiasm, the wild cheers

        of the crowd for their favorites...War! Be it weeks, months,

        or years, an armd race is advancing to welcome it.

As we can see, like most Americans, Whitman was proud of the engagements to come because at the time, war was only viewed by those who had never seen the ugly side of it.

        Like a daybook of prose, Drum Taps follows the war and the attitudes that accompany such an event. A further example of the authors...

If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



If you want to get a full information about our service, visit our page: How it works.