'What Best I See In Thee' by Walt Whitman
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WHAT best I see in thee,
Is not that where thou mov'st down history's great highways,
Ever undimm'd by time shoots warlike victory's dazzle,
Or that thou sat'st where Washington sat, ruling the land in peace,
Or thou the man whom feudal Europe feted, venerable Asia, swarm'd
upon,
Who walk'd with kings with even pace the round world's promenade;
But that in foreign lands, in all thy walks with kings,
Those prairie sovereigns of the West, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois,
Ohio's, Indiana's millions, comrades, farmers, soldiers, all to the
front,
Invisibly with thee walking with kings with even pace the round
world's promenade,10
We all so justified.
Editor 1 Interpretation
What Best I See In Thee: A Deep Dive into Walt Whitman's Poetic Genius
Walt Whitman once said, "I am large, I contain multitudes." And indeed, his poetry is a testament to the vastness of his soul and the depth of his understanding of the human experience. In his poem, "What Best I See In Thee," Whitman offers a profound reflection on the nature of love, beauty, and the transcendent power of the human spirit. This 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation will explore the themes and imagery of this masterpiece of American poetry, and delve into the nuances of Whitman's unique poetic style.
Context and Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, it's important to provide a bit of context and background on Walt Whitman's life and literary career. Born in 1819 in Long Island, New York, Whitman was raised in a working-class family and received little formal education. He worked a variety of jobs throughout his youth, including as a printer, teacher, and journalist. It wasn't until he was in his thirties that he began to focus on his career as a poet and writer.
Whitman's first major work, "Leaves of Grass," was published in 1855 and was met with controversy and criticism for its innovative free verse style and frank depictions of sexuality. However, the book eventually gained a following and is now considered a landmark of American literature. Whitman continued to write and publish throughout his life, producing numerous collections of poems and essays that explored themes such as democracy, nature, and the human soul.
"What Best I See In Thee" was first published in 1871 as part of Whitman's collection "Drum-Taps," which was written in response to the American Civil War. The poem is addressed to an unknown lover, and reflects Whitman's belief in the transformative power of love and the beauty of the human form.
The Poem
What Best I See In Thee
By Walt Whitman
I see the graceful leaning trees, And night's blue-black shadow on the ground: The silvery moon, and stars that twinkling be, The earth's white-drest procession, speed-ing by, And all the manifold things that have been wrought By the silence of the night, And I, too, gaze on thee, face of shadows, Busy with the whispers of the night.
I see the sea's endless expanse, And the white sails of ships that glide Like beautiful birds upon the water's breast, And the green hills that rise above the shore, And the waves that break upon the sand, And I, too, see thee, face of shadows, Within whose depths a thousand mysteries hide.
I see the faces of men and women, Their thoughts and passions, joys and fears, Their silent struggles with the world and self, Their longings for love and understanding, And I, too, see thee, face of shadows, Mingling with the throng, yet apart.
I see the beauty of thy form, The grace of every limb and line, The light that shines within thine eyes, The gentle curve of lip and chin, And I, too, see thee, face of shadows, And find in thee a beauty beyond all art.
What is it, then, that I see in thee? Is it the grace of nature's fairest things, The mystery of the human soul, The beauty of the form divine? Nay, it is all of these, and more, The essence of the universe in thee, A spark of God's own light, that shines Through all the shadows of this mortal life.
Analysis
At its core, "What Best I See In Thee" is a celebration of the human spirit and the beauty that can be found in both nature and humanity. Whitman begins the poem by describing the natural world, with its "graceful leaning trees" and "silvery moon." He then turns his attention to the face of his beloved, which he describes as "face of shadows, / Busy with the whispers of the night." This imagery creates a sense of intimacy and mystery, as if the speaker is gazing upon something both familiar and otherworldly.
Whitman continues to draw parallels between the natural world and the human experience throughout the poem. He sees the "white sails of ships" as "beautiful birds" and the waves that break upon the shore as a reflection of the "longings for love and understanding" that exist within the human heart. This connection between nature and humanity reflects Whitman's belief in the interconnectedness of all things, and the notion that a deep understanding of the natural world can lead to a greater appreciation of human life.
The poem's central question, "What is it, then, that I see in thee?" is both rhetorical and deeply philosophical. Whitman seems to be searching for a way to articulate the profound sense of beauty and meaning that he finds in his beloved's face. He considers the possibility that it is the "grace of nature's fairest things," but ultimately concludes that it is "all of these, and more," including "the essence of the universe in thee" and "a spark of God's own light."
This final imagery is perhaps the most profound of the poem, as it suggests that the beauty and meaning that Whitman finds in his beloved is not simply a product of his own perception, but is rather a reflection of something larger and more transcendent. By suggesting that his beloved contains "a spark of God's own light," Whitman is not only elevating the object of his affection to a divine level, but is also suggesting that all of humanity shares in this transcendent spark.
Style and Form
One of the most striking aspects of "What Best I See In Thee" is Whitman's use of free verse. Unlike traditional forms of poetry, which rely on strict rules of meter and rhyme, free verse allows the poet to experiment with language and form in a way that more closely mirrors the rhythms and cadences of everyday speech. This lack of formal structure also reflects Whitman's rejection of traditional societal norms and his belief in the individual's ability to create their own path in life.
In addition to his use of free verse, Whitman is also known for his repetition and use of anaphora, or the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. This technique is used in several places throughout "What Best I See In Thee," such as when Whitman repeats the phrase "face of shadows" multiple times. This repetition creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the idea of the beloved as a mysterious and elusive presence.
Lastly, it's worth noting the way in which Whitman uses imagery to evoke a sense of both intimacy and grandeur. By juxtaposing images of the natural world with those of the human experience, he creates a sense of interconnectedness that is both profound and beautiful. His use of vivid and sensory language also helps to evoke a sense of the transcendent, as if the reader is being transported to a realm beyond the physical world.
Conclusion
"What Best I See In Thee" is a testament to Walt Whitman's poetic genius and his profound understanding of the human experience. Through his use of free verse, repetition, and vivid imagery, he creates a sense of intimacy and grandeur that is both deeply moving and intellectually stimulating. The poem's exploration of the nature of beauty and the human spirit is timeless, and its emphasis on the interconnectedness of all things is a powerful reminder of our place in the world. In short, "What Best I See In Thee" is a masterpiece of American poetry, and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Walt Whitman, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century, is known for his unique style of writing that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. His poem "What Best I See In Thee" is a beautiful expression of love and admiration for someone special. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and themes to understand the depth of Whitman's words.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker expressing his admiration for the person he is addressing. He says, "What best I see in thee, / Is not that where thou mov'st down history's great highways, / Ever undimm'd by time shoots warlike victory's dazzle, / Or that thou sat'st where Washington sat, ruling the land in peace." Here, the speaker is saying that what he admires most about the person is not their accomplishments or fame, but something deeper and more personal.
In the second stanza, the speaker goes on to describe what he sees in the person. He says, "Something that comes from thy soul, / That too goes, swift as light, from thy soul, / Something that, embodied, stands for thee, / Something that never retreats or advances." Here, the speaker is saying that what he sees in the person is something that comes from within, something that is a part of their very being. It is not something that can be measured or quantified, but something that is felt and experienced.
The third stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker expressing his love for the person. He says, "To me, America, to-day, thy proud electric deeds, / Western world, thy ignorant armies, / England, France, German, Spain, / Jointed the globe round, making monstrous war's lightning." Here, the speaker is saying that despite the chaos and violence in the world, his love for the person remains strong and unwavering.
The language used in the poem is simple yet powerful. Whitman uses imagery and metaphors to convey his message. For example, in the first stanza, he uses the metaphor of "history's great highways" to describe the person's accomplishments and fame. However, he quickly dismisses this as the reason for his admiration, saying that what he sees in the person is something deeper than that.
In the second stanza, Whitman uses the metaphor of something that "comes from thy soul" to describe the intangible quality that he admires in the person. He also uses the metaphor of something that "never retreats or advances" to describe the steadfastness of this quality.
In the third stanza, Whitman uses the metaphor of "monstrous war's lightning" to describe the chaos and violence in the world. However, he contrasts this with his love for the person, which remains strong and unchanging.
The themes of the poem are love, admiration, and the intangible qualities that make a person special. Whitman is saying that what he sees in the person is not their accomplishments or fame, but something deeper and more personal. He is saying that true love and admiration come from within, from the intangible qualities that make a person unique.
In conclusion, "What Best I See In Thee" is a beautiful expression of love and admiration. Whitman's use of language and metaphors conveys the depth of his feelings, and the themes of the poem are universal and timeless. The poem reminds us that true love and admiration come from within, from the intangible qualities that make a person special.
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