Source: Shelf Actualization
In his essay, “How Gay Was Walt Whitman?,” Arnie Kantrowitz analyzes the multitude of evidence brought forth in both Whitman’s writing and that of gay critics to determine if the grey poet was a homosexual. Kantrowitz writes how “it is difficult for modem gay readers to imagine Whitman as anything other than one of us since his voice seems so clearly to resonate with our own feelings and interests,” as seen in poems such as “Starting from Paumanok” or “Over the Carnage Rose Prophetic a Voice”. In these poems, Whitman idealizes a future world where the basis of Democracy would be founded on the principles of male comradeship. Although Whitman’s era was not as progressive as our own now, Kantrowitz mirrors Whitman with that of Oscar Wilde, claiming that “Whitman seems the prototype of the modern gay man.”
Even during the 19th century, gay critics were “[casting Whitman] in their own idealized image.” However, it is interesting to note that when scholar, John Addington Symonds, confronted Whitman about his conception of Comradeship and his possible preference towards men, Whitman “vehemently denied” this questioning and even claimed it as being “damnable”. Whitman also claimed that he was a father despite lack of evidence suggesting he had fathered one child, let alone six. Symonds concluded that Whitman was “as hostile to sexual inversion as any law-abiding humdrum Anglo-Saxon could desire.” Like Kantrowitz suggests, there is too much evidence to suggest otherwise and it was most likely that Whitman was lying to keep his persona as the quintessential “American” poet untarnished during his time.
As the article continues, Kantrowitz provides more evidence to suggest that Whitman’s sexual preference was towards men despite his denial in written accounts. Through close-reading and research, many gay critics see countless homosexual references in Whitman’s work. According to Kantrowitz, it is clear throughout the Civil War era that Whitman fell in love with his patients as he worked as a nurse in Washington. Kantrowitz writes, “In his journals he described their godlike statuesque bodies as they lay suffering in the wards. He sent underwear and a book to Tom Sawyer and suggested that they might live together with Lewy Brown, an amputee, after the war, commenting that he and Lewy ‘gave each other a long kiss, half a minute long.” Evidence like this makes Whitman’s infatuation with the nursing of soldiers more clear in poems like “The Wound Dresser”. One of the clearest bits of evidence Kantrowitz showcased in his essay “comes indirectly through Gavin Arthur, who wrote in Circle of Love of his visit when he was 20 with Edward Carpenter, the 80-year-old English socialist who had spent two weekend visits with Whitman when he was younger.” This interview is the only evidence of Whitman’s experiences in bed. In the interview, Arthur asks Edward if he slept with Whitman, to which he replies “of course I slept with him, on Mickle Street in Camden.” Although this interview is enlightening and is solid evidence of Whitman as being gay, Kantrowitz does not believe that this one incident characterizes “all of Whitman’s experiences.” With society being different during Whitman’s time and terms like “gay” or “queer” not existing, Kantrowitz claims that Whitman “simply encoded the bond he felt for other men in an ideal of personal freedom outside the institutions of society”. In closing, regardless of Whitman’s sexual preferences and denial of it despite evidence to suggest otherwise, Whitman “remains a poet for all times and all people, but his words continue to hold special meaning for men whose love for their fellow men is more than platonic.”
What fascinated me about this article was the ample evidence that Kantrowitz provided despite Whitman’s claims that he was not a homosexual. Seeing the conflicting evidence even though one side’s evidence outweighs the other was really interesting to consider. Even though there could be some fabrication from old age, it was also unique to read an excerpt from an interview of someone who lived with Whitman, regardless of it only being two weeks. Then, on top of it all, for Edward Carpenter to claim they did sleep together was one of the more fascinating parts of the essay. These back and forth claims debating the extent of Whitman’s infatuation with men widens the mystery of his sexual preference. However, like Kantrowitz, I believe that regardless of who Whitman loved and desired, he still remains as the people’s poet and a voice for many.
Works Cited
Kantrowitz, Arnie. “How Gay Was Walt Whitman.” Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review, vol. 5, no. 2, 1998, pp. 7–9. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mzh&AN=1998069089&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
While we read Whitman’s work and does discussed the queer interpretation of his work, I couldn’t help but think of Oscar Wilde and how he and his work served as a prototype for modern queer works. It’s interesting to read Whitman’s work from this lens in context to Whitman’s own personal life. While a few critics called out his homosexual tendencies in his writing, Whitman pushed back against these claims. However, the evidence is damning to those who read and analyse his work, especially when considering the fact that there is no evidence of Whitman’s children. All of these aspects and criticisms of Whitman and his work add a level of mystery and intrigue to Whitman’s character.
I had no idea that a man came forward saying that he and Whitman slept together. I think this is interesting considering we have little evidence, other than Whitman’s poems, that he was gay. Regardless, we can’t deny the fact that Whitman was inclined toward men. The way he wrote about them and the way he wrote about women is obviously much different. I really enjoyed reading this and seeing what the gay community had to say about him as well. It’s always beneficial to see what the group he is representing interprets his poems!
Whitman was gayer than hell. And that is NOT just my opinion.