While reading Ben Lerner’s 10:04, I found that there were many aspects that were undeniably Whitmanian. The places in which it is possible to find Whitman’s influence are numerous. Right off the bat, the narrator even states that he wishes to write in a way that makes him “a would-be Whitman of the vulnerable grid” (4). This sets a tone for the reader to look for connections between the narrator and Whitman. Although I fully believe that these connections would be obvious without this warning.
In formal ways 10:04 does seem to pay homage to Whitman. Although 10:04 is written in novel form it’s lengthy, rambling sentences are similar to the long lines and sentences found in majority of Whitman’s poetry. There also seems to be a real emphasis by the narrator to connect with the present by bringing up many current events throughout the novel while still relating to past and future. This connection of time and space is a visible energy that can be found in Whitman’s poetry. There is also a sense of deep human connections within the novel that follow Whitman’s own energy of human connectedness. While in the novel it is easier to grasp a fuller sense intimate relationships like that of Alex and the narrator, there are also encounters that seem more casual like that between Alex and the protester or the receptionist at the doctor’s office. Bodily connection, even if imagined seems to be a large part of the importance of these encounters.
I do find the inclusion of the the novel that the narrator is writing somewhat puzzling especially in relation to Whitman. It turns the novel into a work of metafiction which I found enjoyable in this case. In a way I see a connection between the idea that “the author” was fabricating correspondences for money and parts of Whitman’s biography. This might be a bit of stretch but I think I remember us talking about how Whitman fabricated or elaborated on reviews. If that is true there is a chance that this connects the original plot of the metafictional aspects of 10:04 to Whitman.
I definitely agree that bodily connections play a part in this novel. One scene that vividly comes to mind for me is when the narrator first introduces us to Alena and Sharon: “Kissing Sharon hello at the cafe, I felt static as my lips brushed across her cheek, as if Alena and Sharon were coming into contact through me.” This strange greeting the narrator describes seems very Whitmanian to me. The narrator is able to connect with another woman through Sharon’s kiss. This transcending physical encounter shows the interconnectedness of human beings, a notion Whitman constantly attempted to convey in his works. For whatever reason, the narrator is so drawn to Alena, that he finds her and even feels her through different physical bodies. This scene reminds me of Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric,” because it clearly puts emphasis on the power of physical touch and how a body is so deeply connected to the soul, that when the narrator is kissed, he is transported to the woman he is incredibly infatuated with.