Walt Whitman Romanticism

Walt Whitman, a true representative of American literature, overcame the suffering of many of those in the outbreak of the Civil War. Poet and journalist, Whitman before and after the Civil War shows the impact of the romantic idealism which reached its pinnacle in the years to follow. Along with another famous poet who became known for his cynical viewpoint of human nature, Ambrose Bierce. Bierce shows his audience the realist violence brought about by the Civil War. These two literary landmarks depict the American society both before and post Civil War. It is often difficult to understand Whitman's view of the war without understanding both his despair for his country before the hostilities broke out and the profundity to the idea of American nationhood. “The Wound Dresser, written by Walt Whitman, writes, “To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or silently watch the dead” (9-10). By writing this, Whiteman refers to the nation’s people, and they should not pass by the “wounded” because they are too difficult to look at. Instead they are to become wound-dressers, or servants, whose function becomes to fix those who are in need. All his life through experiencing continuous
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”, written by Ambrose Bierce, writes, “It did not appear to be the duty of these two men to know what was occurring at the center of the bridge; they merely blockaded the two ends of the foot planking that traversed it” (11-12). By writing this Bierce is alluding to something much greater than the poem. Though the soldiers guard the place of execution, they don’t completely seem to understand the severity of what actually is going on. Of which in greater depth referring to the American society in the late 19th century, the less those in the society choose to know the easier it is for them to carry on their