Walt Whitmans Social and Political Beliefs

Walt Whitman 's Social and Political Beliefs

Walt Whitman had a very varied life , but throughout it the influences of childhood shine through , whether in his writing , his deeds or his attitudes such as his pride in his homeland . These influences were both positive , such as the ability to think for himself and make his own decisions , and negative , such as his fondness for alcohol . They come form both sides of the family , including the mysticism of Celtic influence , as well as the morality he imbibed from Quaker friends

Whitman came from

a working class background . His carpenter father had been born just after the Revolution and was a freethinker who is said by Ed Folsom and Kenneth Price , in the chapter entitled `Family Origins 2008 `The Whitman Archive ' to have admired the writings of Thomas Paine The same describe Whitman on the same page as `the poet of democracy . The family were proud of their country with three sons being named for heroes of the Revolution . Walter senior 's family was English in origin , but his mother was of a mixed Dutch and Welsh stock with their somewhat Puritanical influence . The family did not officially belong to any religious denomination , but in their chapter entitled `A Brooklyn Childhood and Long Island Interludes , `Folsum and Price mention Quaker influences as well as mystical experiences for the young boy

In 1831 , still only in his thirteenth year , Whitman took up an apprenticeship at a working class and liberal news , the...