Comment #1
"It is both the present and future that are the concerns of "I Hear America Singing." The poem espouses both Whitman's vision of what America should be and in some sense what it already is. According to the poem then, this American ideal is already comprised of the working class, the strong, cheerful, robust, and free class of people that make up the majority of America. Nevertheless, it is Whitman himself who best expresses his belief in the importance of the "common man and woman"."
Analysis #1
I completely agree with this comment because it makes reference to what America should be. For example, Whitman uses the singing of the men in the workforce separately from the women and children because they do not have equal rights, and he is saying that all men and women should be equal. Also, I agree because he is revealing a sense to us that tells us that he believes in equality and women's rights, which this person states in the comment.
Comment #2
According to Chris Semansky, "By reversing the chronology of women's roles (mother-wife-girl) he conflates their individuality into a kind of generically feminized identity. The vision of Whitman's America, then, is a vision of gendered stereotypes, where men are revered for their masculinity, robustness, and procreative possibilities and women for their capacity to joyfully serve those men as mothers and wives. Notice how the young girl is not presented as playing but as laboring."
Analysis #2
I agree with the quote made by this person about the way Whitman writes. The women express their individuality by being very joyful and explaining their story, and everyone is happy. I also agree with his view on Whitman's America. I believe that Whitman is trying to explain that women should not be stereotypes, and they should be treated like individuals and as human beings instead of utilities. I believe that the girl is laboring because the men think they are more important than the women, and the women should be treated like objects instead of humans, which corresponds to what Semansky is implying.
Comment #3
According to Sean Robisch, "Just as each occupation has its singers and each singer a song, so do the day and night have their own music. The only line lacking some form of “to sing” leaves the verb implied: “The day [sings] what belongs to the day. . .” Characteristic of Whitman's philosophy, a day implicitly has a song that it must sing in order to be a day at all. These resonate with American labor, as the night's ring with parties and friendship after work. When the day's verses end, the poem's only obtrusive punctuation introduces the coda, a dash beginning the night life of the men.
Analysis #3
I find this comment very well thought out. In order for a day to be day, it must sing its own song, and in order for night to be night, it must sing a song of its own as well. This directly corresponds to Whitman's views and thoughts of the men and women in the poem. Both Robisch and Whitman are implying their thought that in order for a person to be unique and an individual, they must sing their own song, and these songs are what makes our personalities unique. These direct relations of specific sections of poems are what helps me and others understand a poem even more.
"It is both the present and future that are the concerns of "I Hear America Singing." The poem espouses both Whitman's vision of what America should be and in some sense what it already is. According to the poem then, this American ideal is already comprised of the working class, the strong, cheerful, robust, and free class of people that make up the majority of America. Nevertheless, it is Whitman himself who best expresses his belief in the importance of the "common man and woman"."
Analysis #1
I completely agree with this comment because it makes reference to what America should be. For example, Whitman uses the singing of the men in the workforce separately from the women and children because they do not have equal rights, and he is saying that all men and women should be equal. Also, I agree because he is revealing a sense to us that tells us that he believes in equality and women's rights, which this person states in the comment.
Comment #2
According to Chris Semansky, "By reversing the chronology of women's roles (mother-wife-girl) he conflates their individuality into a kind of generically feminized identity. The vision of Whitman's America, then, is a vision of gendered stereotypes, where men are revered for their masculinity, robustness, and procreative possibilities and women for their capacity to joyfully serve those men as mothers and wives. Notice how the young girl is not presented as playing but as laboring."
Analysis #2
I agree with the quote made by this person about the way Whitman writes. The women express their individuality by being very joyful and explaining their story, and everyone is happy. I also agree with his view on Whitman's America. I believe that Whitman is trying to explain that women should not be stereotypes, and they should be treated like individuals and as human beings instead of utilities. I believe that the girl is laboring because the men think they are more important than the women, and the women should be treated like objects instead of humans, which corresponds to what Semansky is implying.
Comment #3
According to Sean Robisch, "Just as each occupation has its singers and each singer a song, so do the day and night have their own music. The only line lacking some form of “to sing” leaves the verb implied: “The day [sings] what belongs to the day. . .” Characteristic of Whitman's philosophy, a day implicitly has a song that it must sing in order to be a day at all. These resonate with American labor, as the night's ring with parties and friendship after work. When the day's verses end, the poem's only obtrusive punctuation introduces the coda, a dash beginning the night life of the men.
Analysis #3
I find this comment very well thought out. In order for a day to be day, it must sing its own song, and in order for night to be night, it must sing a song of its own as well. This directly corresponds to Whitman's views and thoughts of the men and women in the poem. Both Robisch and Whitman are implying their thought that in order for a person to be unique and an individual, they must sing their own song, and these songs are what makes our personalities unique. These direct relations of specific sections of poems are what helps me and others understand a poem even more.