Walt Whitman's democracy : between transcendentalism and realism

Abstract EN

This paper aims at tracing the development of Walt Whitman's conception of "Democracy" from the period of the transcendental impact to the rise of Realism in the postwar era.

Whitman's "democracy" has never been static; it changes in accordance with the cultural, social and political atmospheres.

He begins his "democratic" motifs under the direct impact of the American Transcendentalism.

This period is characterized by an ideal optimism clearly reflected in "Song of Myself" 1855.

But after the American Civil War (1861-65), he reconsiders his conception of democracy.

He realizes the sufferings and tragedies of war the fact that gives him a full awareness of the American ethnic and multi-cultural idiosyncrasy.

These ideas are expressed in Democratic Vistas 1873.

He concludes that democracy is to be worked for in future as it is difficult to achieve in the present.