Analysis Of Manahatta From Whitman's Leaves Of Grass

Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society museum is the oldest museum in New York City with a mission to "explore the richly layered political, cultural and social history of New York City and State and the nation, and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.” The history of New York City is rich and best sustained through the city’s vigorous diversity, the flood of sights and sounds throughout the seasons. Whitman loved New York and celebrated the varied life as simultaneously uniquely modern and old-fashioned. Viewed in this way even the sordid, ugly, and brutal aspects of city life, acknowledged by Whitman to exist, are redeemed by the energy flowing in and around

One of the exibitions is devoted to the merchants and the advertisments which adorned the shops throughout lower Manhattan. The trade figures (right) illustrate the merchants of New York and broaden our perspective of the city by fostering a visualiztion of these figures and signs on the streets. We can imagine moving throughout the “numberless crowded streets” with “the carts hauling goods – the manly race of the drivers of horses – the brown-faced sailors.” In Two City Areas, Certain Hours from Specimen Days, Whitman is captivated by the “Mississippi of horses and rich vehicles, not by dozens and scored, but hundreds and thousands – the broad avenue filled and cramm’d with them – a moving, sparkling, hurrying crush, for more than two miles.” The maritime spirit is present throughoug Manahatta, where “the houses of business of the ship-merchants, and money-brokers” on “the river-streets.” This perception of New York as a foremost marine port has been enriched after our Museum visit, where we have seen examples of trading figures of the sailors in a contrapposto