7 Jan 2023

106

Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”: A Landscape of Connection

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The ferry is the major image in the poem. The ferry symbolizes continual movement, forward, backward and a universal motion in time and space. The ferry moves on from a point on land, through water, and then to another point on land (Whitman, 1855) . Land in this context symbolizes physical while water symbolizes the spiritual. There is a circular flow between the spiritual and physical, and this connotes universe's dual nature. Whitman says that" Both the mind and the spirit are realities and matter is only a means which enables man to realize this truth." The above statement means that the universe has got two mutual antagonistic principles, that is evil and good. Precisely, Whitman means that the goodness dominates the world, despite the evil taking a subverting place in man. 

The ferry represents this temporal and spatial movement. The ferry is also associated with teams of women and men who ride it, who have ridden it and who will always ride it. The convergence of these women and men represents spiritual unity all people in the universe. Whitman says thinks that a ferry boat is an impalpable substance. He says that "a ferry is the simple, compact and well-joined scheme." Again, he reflects the people, at the future, that will enter the gates and cross to the other shore (Whitman, 1855) . At the third section, Whitman reveals his desire of transcending place, distance and time to establish contact with people in the future generation. 

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The journey on the river is described vividly. The movement to midnight from the day movement supports the idea of the parallel movement of the poet from one side of the river to the other, and thus a clear connection between the spiritual and physical world. As the ferry moves, in section 4, Whitman declares his love for the people, river, and cities. Whiteman says that "This movement marked the beginning of the attitude towards objects and men." The above shows that the ferry is a symbol of reference to the future. The ferry is prophetic, and it anticipates spiritual kinship growth between the reader and the poet. 

Section 5 forms the central foundation of the poem. The poet sought his spiritual and physical identity, and the endeavors to establish unified sensibility through universalization. Whitman used the metaphor chemical solution, "The float forever held in solution. Is the infinite ocean of spiritual life which contains the "potential" of all life?" The use of the word solution indicates that man existence is merged with his or spirits. Spiritually, man is united will all mankind and the future generations (Whitman, 1855)

The Poet describes his role about universe nature. He says, "To me, the universe is compact, harmonious, and well-adjusted." The poet is part of the men's external processes from birth to death. Whiteman post-mortems the future and he take the first position as someone who will cross the river. At this point, nature establishes the link between present leaders and future leaders. The first section describes the setting of the poem, which is on the bank of the river. Whitman observes both passengers and the ferry, and he expands the idea that passengers symbolize largely united mankind (Whitman, 1855)

The cloud, the sun, and the tide compose the integral traits in the spiritual drama between the elements and the poet. Whitman responds to people and then natural objects with the aim of bringing about the imaginative fusion between the reader and himself. The ferry moves on from a point on land, through water, and then to another point on land. Land in this context symbolizes physical while water symbolizes the spiritual. There is a circular flow between the spiritual and physical, and this connotes universe's dual nature. Precisely, Whitman reports that nature provides a link between two places. For human beings to move from one place, there must be a bridge. Therefore, is advisable to respects all these routes. 

In section 8, Whitman depicts the magnificence of the Manhattan harbor, the nightfall on the stream, the seagulls, and the sundown. He understands that the bonds amongst himself and other individuals are unobtrusive yet persevering. Amongst himself and the individual who "looks in my face" is the subtlest bond. The union amongst himself as well as other people can't be comprehended in customary terms, by instructing, or by lecturing — it is more magical and natural (Whitman, 1855) . Reviewing the scene of the waterway and the general population with whom he was related, he brings out the profound bond that connections man with his kindred men. The reference to the combination ("which wires me into you now") is the essential perfect the artist looked for before all else. The union with the peruser is mysterious and past the limits of sound idea or logic. 

This segment is critical in that it utilizes the dialect of mantra. The artist conjures the pictures of his encounters to recommend the streaming of time. The physical presence of man resembles a ship handling between the two shores of mortality and eternality (Whitman, 1855) . He and his favor (his creative ability) utilize items to express the possibility of the scan for the endless past the transient. This pursuit, or the capacity of favor, is exemplified by the ship ride which moves from a point in the physical world to a goal in the profound world. This adventure of the soul can occur effectively in a universe which is symphonious and balanced. 

References 

Walt Whitman . (1855). Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 

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StudyBounty. (2023, September 16). Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”: A Landscape of Connection.
https://studybounty.com/walt-whitmans-crossing-brooklyn-ferry-a-landscape-of-connection-essay

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