Taking a look at Whitman's notebook
Looking at this scan of Whitman's notebook (maybe its just because of my terrible eye) but i can make out almost none of the writing. What i can seems to meaningless broken sentences only Whitman could put into context. What i did notice, and that i liked, was Whitman's doodles. His drawings were pretty good. I didn't really expect a writer to be a rather talented artist too. His portrayal of form and shading is pretty great. So what i gained from this scan of his notebook was actually a more encompassing view of Whitman as a person. I'm literally twenty minutes from his old home in Huntington Long Island and i still only just now learned that Whitman both, kept a journal, and was a fairly decent artist. While a cant make out much if any of his writings, i can certainly appreciate the talent he had with a pen.
Reading a "transcript" of Whitman's notebook
Well that certainly cleared a lot up for me. I really think i like Walt Whitman as a person but some of ideas were incredibly progressive for a notebook he wrote in at the end of the 19th century. I should specify, his religious ideas where he proposes simply imposing "new, third religions" are progressive even for today. I like that Whitman was so open minded and sought to answer even fundamental issues like the approach of religious views and how they impacted the politics he was also so invested in. His writing about his close encounter with Lincoln during his campaign trail and the proceeding fictional exchanges he wrote with Lincoln really showed what Whitman valued. Not just his fundamental interest in "Libertad" but also his respect for leaders and the fact that Liberty was an aspect that had outlived any political body or empire. For his casual notebook Whitman's writings were incredibly enjoyable to read. Certainly more comprehensive in his personal ideas then i expected when i tried to read through myself.
P.S. Wow, what are the chances that I finally get around to watching Breaking Bad, while were reading Walt Whitman, and I take a trip up to Long Island within a few minutes of Whitman's old home? Its kind of got my interest in him peaked.
Good response- I appreciate how you looked at the big and little picture, and the details and support you provided as you processed and analyzed the journal. I do wish you had looked at some specific examples and considered those in your response (although I, too, am intrigued by your Long Island trip)
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