Journal Entry "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"

Stephen Greene

English 48B

March 3, 2011

Journal #24, Walt Whitman

"You have waited, you always wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers,
We receive you with free sense at last, and are insatiate henceforward,
Not you any more shall be able to foil us, or withhold yourselves from us,
We use you, and do not cast you aside--we plant you permanently within
       us.
We fathom you not--we love you--there is perfection in you also,
you furnish your parts toward eternity,
Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul"(25).

"A great city is that which has the greatest men and women".

"And there is no trade or employment but the young man following it may become a hero".

" After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on - have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear - what remains? Nature remains".        --Walt Whitman

 This passage is the last few lines of "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" and is a very motivating, inclusive string of words that is dripping with the ideals of democracy.  Whitman begins with challenging statements confronting the reader and accusing.  He is admonishing people for waiting, and deeming them dumb.  But, he quickly spins on his toe, from dumb to beautiful ministers.  But, in a protective move, we are encompassed by the society,  by the us.  He goes on to say that we, meaning society and its people, use you, again speaking to the reader.  But it is not a damaging use of the individual, but a rooting and securing one, protecting.  He says that "we use you, and do not cast you aside--we plant you permanently within us."  His placement of "us"on the next line, indented, alone, is done to emphasize the all-encompassing sense of community.  The society loves the individual, the reader specifically in this case, and sees perfection in him simply because of his place within it, Whitman seems to say.  Each person must furnish their part, must play their role, must not because they are forced to, but must because it is impossible for a mind not to.  This translates to some of the ideals typical of democracy.  He is trying to challenge the individual to action, then encompassing and protecting as the individual as he acts, and using him.  But through his use, he benefits by gaining acceptance and support.