#9 whitman: hope.

Honestly, this class was fabulous. I totally digged all of the reading that we did and I think it offered a version of American history that I haven't experienced before in reading. I love what the class did. And you, Suzanne, rocked out some pretty awesome stuff that I haven't thought about before. 

I am not really a fan of Whitman.. well wasn't, until I read Leaves of Grass. I LOVED every word of this poem. Leaves of Grass has done for me what Emerson has ALWAYS done for me-- offered hope in the midst of everything. I am an optimistic person to my core and choose to always live within the positives. I believe so strongly in the human heart and the human condition and I believe ALWYAS that their is hope. (Maybe this is why I have "hope" tattooed on one wrist and the kanji symbol for "human" on the other) I'm all about this. 

I like what we did for the Emerson week-- picking a quote for each day. So, for my last blog I kind of want to pick out some cool stuff from Whitman that really struck me. 

First, I think what the facilitation group said about Whitman being an “answer” to these themes in American society/literature/culture is absolutely right. I felt the sigh of relief that the facilitation group presented. 

Whitman offers hope. He's a breath of fresh air. 

Returning to the childlike innocence—don’t worry and don’t overthink. Whitman explains grass as being like a child. He views everything with a sense of lightness. 

Everything. Universalism. He is everything. Everything is him. --Totally dig this. Everything is in sync-- body and mind. 

“I believe in the flesh and the appetites…” Indulgence. Embracing our human condition.

“Not word of routine this song of mine” This is VERY Emerson-like. 

“I know perfectly well my own ego” This is why I'm not a huge fan of Whitman. He has a huge ego. But then again, that is what makes for this great piece. 

“It is time to explain myself—let us stand up.” Speak it. Take ownership and speak it.

Self-reliance- “Not I, not anyone else can travel that road for you,/ you must travel it for yourself.” “You are also asking me questions and I hear you, / I answer that I cannot answer, you must find out for yourself.” Self-reliance all the way. We all have the answers. Live these realities and make life yours. You can/hold all the answers to your questions.

#8 dickenson & sexton: repression, submission & rebellion.

Repression
Both Dickenson and Sexton repressed feelings. Dickenson repressed her feelings for another woman, Sue. Sexton repressed her feelings and desires regarding her impulsive sexual nature. Their repressed feeling came out in writing. Dickenson’s letters to Sue explored her feelings and thoughts; Sexton’s writing captured her uncertainty about conventional life (motherhood and wifehood).  

Dickenson writes: “Precious to me—she still shall be—/ Though she forget the name I bear.” Dickenson craves Sue and wants her to be with her, but that is not and will never ever be the case. In her letter to Sue she writes, "I have one thought, Sussie.. and that of you.. I need you more and more... If you were here... we would not ask for language" Dickenson wrote to and for Sue, but her language could never be enough for her. She needed Sue is everything she did.

Sexton takes on witches voice in much of her writing. I feel like she does this because of how she herself feels like the witch-- a deviant, a bad, bad person.  Red Robin is autobiographical. Briar Rose- she is telling about herself.

Both therefore became submissive in their lives:

Dickenson- liked noted in class handout- can express love through submission, weakness, compliance. (Both partners). CONSEQUENCES

Sexton- submitting to the life style—for whatever reason. Mention other work?

Subtle acts of rebellion:

Dickenson writing to Sue.. sending her letters.. confessing her feelings. Refusing to visit brother. recognizing the love affair, the feelings, the realities.

Sexton in her affair with all her psychologist, engaging in those impulses to fulfill her desires.