Irony

Whitman, as an American, has a point of view of war. In his time period there was a lot of conflicts going on and Whitman was, as the rest of the Americans, involved in it. His works have this effect reflected.

There is this part from poem 18 that I really liked:

“ Vivas to those who have fail’d!
And to those whose war-vessels sank in the sea!
And to those themselves who sank in the sea!
And to all generals that lost engagements! and all overcome heroes!
And the numberless unknown heroes, equal to the greatest heroes known. ”

First, I notice that the four ending lines start with “And”, as I said in my previous blog, this makes an emphasis to what he is saying. But as if the repetition wasn’t enough, Whitman adds an exclamation mark at the end of the four starting lines. It is a strong verse, a lot of feeling. He is making a celebration to war, almost as if critizing it. Celebrating the deaths of so many, like the politicians and generals do. The last line I love. “numberless unknown heroes, equal to the greatest heroes known.” He uses two well chosen adjectives, numberless and unknown, and then three adjectives that are quite the opposite, equal (as an specific number) greatest and known. The line is sad. The entire verse is sad. But he celebrates it, ironically.