Quote: "I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd,/I stand and look at them long and long./They do not sweat and whine about their condition,/They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,/They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,/Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things" (52).
Summary: Whitman seems to be tired of living with other humans, writing that he could live with animals, and not have to put up with the constant annoyances of people, such as their strict religion codes and materialism.
Response: In this passage, Whitman gives reasons why he would be more content living with animals than with humans.
I disagree with Whitman on this point. While at times the world we live in, especially in today’s present day, may be overwhelming, no human interaction would drive someone insane.
In Whitman’s time, it sounded like his primary annoyance was people’s constant submission to God and fulfilling their duty to him. Another point he brings up is the materialism of people in his day. Even more so today, people are caught up with materials and wealth, especially with America being one of the most, if not the most, capitalistic countries in the world. Even the wealthiest of people though, still do not find spiritual happiness. For these reasons, someone can easily grow skeptical and tired of the system, which at times can feel like a rat race. In some cases, the people who work the hardest end up with the least, especially with the increase of globalization across the world.
There are many times that people have felt trapped in their situation and there are probably many people who wish they could revert to the simple days and become one with nature. At some points, people may wish that they could live the care free lives of animals and just live off of nature, rather than constantly having to worry about bills, rent, and other stresses of daily life. Sometimes people might wish that they were the only human on earth because they are so sick of the system and sick of other human beings.
However, a life without any other humans would be a difficult one to live. Although humans have their faults, they also offer what animals cannot, which is reason. And with reason, humans can effectively communicate and have the potential to form deep bonds, bonds that could never be formed with an animal. For this reason, I do not believe that living with animals has the potential to make someone as happy as connecting with another person.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
20/20 This is a thoughtful and independent response, but it ends up being far more about "you" than about Whitman. So in future try to stick closer to an analysis of the words and ideas Whitman himself used. You don't need to agree with him, but you do need to listen to the way he says things, not just what he says.
Post a Comment