CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS OF SYMBOLS IN WALT WHITMAN S

Transcription

1 11 CHAPTER 3 ANALYSIS OF SYMBOLS IN WALT WHITMAN S WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD BLOOM D This chapter will describe the analysis of symbols in Walt Whitman s poem When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom d based on Paul Ricoeur s hermeneutic. As the poem consists of sixteen parts, the analysis of symbol and its interpretation will be divided into two parts, they are the analysis of symbol in each part based on cosmic, oneiric, and poetic dimensions and the interpretation of the symbol based on three layers of meaning, arché, telos, and eskaton. 3.1 The Symbolical Analysis The First Part The first part is the beginning of Whitman s mourning. It talks about the two major symbols in this poem; the lilac and the star. It has the entire three dimensions of symbol, which are cosmic, oneiric and poetic. 1. (1) When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd, (2) And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night, (3) I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring. (4) Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring, (5) Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west, (6) And thought of him I love.

2 Cosmic Dimension As the title suggest, the poem is talking about lilac, although it is not the only main thing used in the poem. Lilac appears repeatedly from the beginning until the end of the poem. Lilac is the symbol of love. In Eastern symbolism, it has a connection with manly love (Bradley, et al, 1962: 94). It can also be connected with its leaves which are heart-shaped. The lilacs here seems to be the one that grows and blooms in Whitman s dooryard (line 1), and appears in front of him when he hears the news about Abraham Lincoln s death. In line 5, when the poet is talking about the long lasting lilac, it shows that the flower blooms all year long, even though it has a time, which is spring, when it blooms fully and beautifully. The word perennial supports the idea that the lilac is a long lasting plant as perennial means living for two years or more. (Hornby, 2003: 939) It also means continuing for a very long time; happening again and again. Therefore, it suggests that lilac will bloom again and again, and so does Lincoln that will always be remembered. The great star in line 2, which is the great star in the western sky, means Venus. Venus is the evening star that shines brightly in the western sky before, during and after Lincoln s assassination. This great star symbolizes Lincoln. As the leader of the country and a great-war leader, Whitman identified him as a great star in this elegy. Besides that, Whitman adores Lincoln for his attitude and for what he has done for the people of America. Meanwhile, the western sky is the place where Whitman saw the great star dropped the night the President was shot. Lincoln was born in Kentucky and hailed from Illinois, while Whitman was born in New York.

3 13 Lilac that blooms in spring symbolizes resurrection. The flower that blooms beautifully in spring will die as the season changes. When summer comes, it turns yellow and becomes dry; when autumn comes, the leaves fall off the branches; and in winter the whole three is bare. Yet, it will bloom again in the next spring, ever-returning spring appears in line 3 and emphasized again in line 4. This phrase means resurrection, just like what the spring season suggests. It emphasizes that the spring will always return, just like the idea of resurrection. Spring will always come every year, it is never absent and will always be remembered. This means, as long as the lilac keeps on blooming every spring, Whitman will never forget what happens at that time. Spring season that symbolizes resurrection is connected to Christ s resurrection. Lincoln s death is in April, in the same month as Easter. Lincoln s assassination was on Friday, April 14 th, 1865, exactly on Good Friday, when the Christians celebrate the death of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is the day of Jesus Christ s resurrection after His death on the Friday before, which is called the Good Friday Oneiric Dimension Meanwhile, the word night in line 2 is related to death. The darkness of the night is often connected to death, as the colour of the night is black, and black is often used as the symbol of sadness, mourning and death. Whitman is indeed in the situation of mourning and feels sad, but besides that, he uses the word night because the happening that he wants to present is at night. Even

4 14 though Lincoln dies in the morning of the next day, he has been shot the night before. In line 4, there is a hope when Whitman uses the word trinity. In Christian theology, trinity refers to Christ as He is one in a form of three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As a father, Christ does a lot of things for His creations, such as protecting and fulfilling their needs. As a son, Christ helps us to make peace with God, and obeys what His father asks Him to do, even to sacrifice and die in order to wash our sins. As a holy spirit, Christ is still here with us, just like at the time when He came to the world, even though He has died and now is in heaven. Whitman is relating the word trinity as if Lincoln is an analogy to Christ. There are some similar things, but not the same, between Lincoln and Christ. First, just like Christ as a father, Lincoln was the father of democracy in the United States. He tries his best to fulfill his people s needs and he protects his people from the injustice. Second, like Christ as a son, Lincoln sacrifices his life to do the best he can do. In his life, he has done many things for his people and country. He helps end slavery in the United States and helps keep the American Union from splitting apart during the American Civil War. Then, like Christ as a holy spirit, Whitman hoped that Lincoln s spirit will always be with us even he is now in heaven Poetic Dimension When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom d is basically a metaphor. It personifies Abraham Lincoln who became a successful person and regarded as

5 15 the greatest person in United States history near the end of his life. He was elected as the president of the United States on November 6 th 1860 and reelected on November 8 th Although he was elected as the president, the people of America did not know much about him and was not really sure that he could do much for the States. It can be seen from the result of the presidential election in 1860 when he received less than 40 percent of popular vote. (Boritt, 2006: ). However, the people of America started to realize and turned their eyes upon Abraham Lincoln in 1865 when he won the American Civil War. That is why Whitman said that when Lincoln was dead, he was in bloomed in the United States. Next, the sentence And the great star early droop d in the western sky in the night is also a metaphor that refers to Abraham Lincoln. This line has a similar meaning with the previous one. As he was the president of the United States at that time, he was one of the most important leaders in America. The people of America have regarded him as one of the greatest person in the United States history. Since he was elected as the president of the United States, he did many things for his country. He led the United States during the American Civil War and gave his best effort in leading America to a better future, but he did not have much time to experience his achievement. The American Civil War ended in April 9 th 1865, six days before he died in April 15 th He only had less than a week to savor the victory.

6 The Second Part In this part, Whitman moans and complains about the death of Lincoln. He moans about the death of the powerful person he adores. In this part, the word star refers to the cosmic dimension, and the words night and black refer to oneiric dimension. 2 (7) O powerful western fallen star! (8) O shades of night -- O moody, tearful night! (9) O great star disappear'd -- O the black murk that hides the star! (10) O cruel hands that hold me powerless -- O helpless soul of me! (11) O harsh surrounding cloud that will not free my soul Cosmic Dimension The symbol of star has already appeared in the first part, and the star in this part is exactly the same with the previous one. It is Venus, which represents Lincoln. In line 7, Whitman regrets that the powerful western star has fallen. He seems to be very disappointed with the death and regrets that a great person like Lincoln must die so early. In line 9, the great star is said to be disappeared because of the black murk. As the great star, Lincoln has disappeared from this world as death has taken him away Oneiric Dimension The word night has already appeared also in the first part, and also has a relation with death and sadness, but the night in this part takes a broader perception. In line 8, he moans the night that brings something bad, the night that

7 17 causes him to loose his loved one. That night, Whitman is so sad and full of tears as he knows that Lincoln has just gotten a shot. In line 9, Whitman seems angry with the black murk that hides the star. Similar with the idea of night, black is also related to death. According to Stone (2006: 30), black is associated with night and death. It is also related to mystery, evil and mourning. In this part, black symbolizes death that hides Lincoln; death that has taken Lincoln away from this world. Whitman is sad and angry because the death takes Lincoln from him. He complains that he feels powerless and helpless when the death comes and takes Lincoln away, because he can do nothing to stop the death Poetic Dimension The phrase O powerful western fallen star! In line 7 is a metaphor. The powerful western fallen star is the powerful president Abraham Lincoln. As a president of the United States, he is a powerful person. Boritt (2006: 310) said that Lincoln became a remarkable war leader. Some historians believe he was the chief architect of the Union s victorious military strategy. He was said to be the western star because he lived in the United States, which is located at the west part of the world. Besides that, Kentucky, Illinois and Washington, the states where Lincoln was born, grew up and died, are seen as in the west from New York, the state where Whitman lived in. Furthermore, the phrase O the black murk that hides the star! (line 9) shows also a metaphor. The star is Abraham Lincoln, and the black murk is John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. The black murk hides the star

8 18 and makes it unseen, just like Booth s action in shooting Lincoln to death and made him unseen again in this world The Third Part The third part of the poem reflects a poetic dimension, which is imagery, in most of the lines. Besides that, there are also cosmic and oneiric dimensions. This part describes the lilac with its shape, form, colour, smell, and the location where it is grow. 3 (12) In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash'd palings, (13) Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green, (14) With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love, (15) With every leaf a miracle -- and from this bush in the dooryard, (16) With delicate-color'd blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green, (17) A sprig with its flower I break Cosmic Dimension Line 13 talks about the lilac which is tall-growing and has heart-shaped green leaves. The shape of a lilac plant is like a cone that filled with flowers. The sprigs are in piles and make it looks like a bush. It is growing and becomes tall, so it means that there are lots of lilac sprigs and leaves. The word bush symbolizes the abundance of the lilac sprigs and leaves. The leaves of the lilac coloured green and shaped like hearts. The love that Whitman has for Lincoln is identified by the heart-shaped leaves, and he has a great love, as the plant is in

9 19 the form of bush, so it means there are many leaves forming it. Therefore, the leaves of the lilac symbolize the love that Whitman dedicates to Lincoln. In Eastern symbolism, lilac is related to manly love (Bradley, et al, 1962: 94). It might be also because of the leaves that shaped like hearts. The green colour of the leaves symbolizes healing. However, losing someone will put the live ones in sadness and grief. The colour of green is believed has a power to heal, calm, and refresh. The adjective rich before the colour green emphasizes that the healing is deep and has strength to help the living ones, as Hornby (2003: 1098) stated that the rich of colour means strong or deep; very beautiful or pleasing. While the shape is intended for the dead, the colour is intended for the left ones. The lilac has many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love. The persona likes the lilac as it is blooming delicately and has a nice strong smell that he likes. Lilac is a nice flower with delicate blossoms in its every sprig. The scent of the lilac flower is very strong and can be smelled even from a distance. As it is a very strong smell, it remains for a quite long time. Therefore, this smell will always be remembered and connected with Lincoln s death. Whitman likes the lovely smell, but he also hates it as it reminds him of the death Oneiric Dimension There is one symbol of oneiric dimension in this part, which is the word miracle in line 15. In the sadness of losing someone he adores, Whitman has a hope and believes that this happening has its own good. It is identified by the

10 20 miracle that he believes exists in every leaf of the lilac. The people left by the dead, especially the close ones, must be sad. Death brings sadness to those people, but Whitman believes that there is something good behind it that God has prepared and people do not know yet. It is also related to the resurrection of Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the Good Friday, the people who love him were in grief, no exception the Father. Jesus Christ died in a cruel way, as He was crucified. Jesus Christ was crucified and died to fulfill God s word and to redeem our sins, which would become the bridge in the relationship between the people and the God, and the people who believe in God will have everlasting life. As stated in St. John 3: 16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Therefore, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a miracle; it brings something good behind the sadness and suffers. Whitman hopes and believes that the assassination of Lincoln will also be a miracle, which brings something good behind the sadness Poetic Dimension In line 12, the dooryard, old farm-house, and white-wash d palings are visual imagery. This line is the image of the location where the lilac grows, which is in the dooryard in an old farm house. It represents the place where Lincoln lived in as a president of the United States, which is the white house. Meanwhile, the phrase Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heartshaped leaves of rich green (line 13) personifies the figure of the tall President

11 21 Abraham Lincoln, who was the president of the United States and a great charismatic leader. He was loved by his people, including Whitman. Furthermore, With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love (line 14) refers to Abraham Lincoln who was like a flower that blooms. With the many successful things he did for the United States, such as ended the slavery and won the American Civil War, he was like a blooming flower, as at that time, people had just recognized how great he was. Even though he was in bloom, he was weak. He can be a powerful and successful person, but as a human, a God s creature, he could not avoid the death, as death is in God s hand. The strong perfume refers to Lincoln s good characters that are liked by the persona, and his people. Lincoln was a peace-loving man, a great war leader, and a great president who did such effort for his people until the end of his life. Visual imagery in line 16 is the colour of the lilac, which is said to be delicate. Lilac is a bush or small tree with purple or white flowers with a sweet smell that grow closely together in the shape of a cone (Hornby, 2003: 746). The colour of the blooming lilac in spring is usually purple, although the poet does not mention it in his poem. Purple colour is associated with royalty and spirituality, and also can be connected to madness and cruelty (Stone, 2006: 28, 29). The delicate purple colour of the blooming lilac (line 16) refers to the royalty of Lincoln. As the president of the United States, his degree is just the same as a king in a kingdom country. Purple colour of the lilac also refers to the madness and cruelty of the assassination of Lincoln, which is done by John

12 22 Wilkes Booth by shooting him in the head. Besides that, in Latin America, purple colour indicates death The Fourth Part In the fourth part, there is a new symbol, which is hermit thrush the bird. This part is talking about the bird, which belongs to the symbol of cosmic dimension. It also has some symbols of poetic dimension. 4 (18) In the swamp in secluded recesses, (19) A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song. (20) Solitary the thrush, (21) The hermit withdrawn to himself, avoiding the settlements, (22) Sings by himself a song. (23) Song of the bleeding throat, (24) Death's outlet song of life, (for well dear brother I know, (25) If thou wast not granted to sing, thou would'st surely die.) Cosmic Dimension The phrase hermit thrush bird symbolizes the expressions of Whitman s deep grief and a companion of him. This kind of bird likes to live in a swamp, in secluded and dark recesses ( A shy and hidden bird in line 19 and Solitary the thrush in line 20 talks about the loneliness of him. The death of Lincoln makes him want to be alone for a while. Whitman hides himself from people to concern on the death. swamp in secluded recesses (line 18) represents the place where he is in loneliness and the situation when he is thinking about the death, which is so quiet and no disturbance.

13 23 Hermit thrush is a kind of bird that has an unforgettable voice. They like to sing an ethereal flute-like song, and they sing it beautifully ( Line is talking about the bird singing and its song. The bird expresses Whitman s grief through a song. It sings a Song of the bleeding throat to express the sadness Poetic Dimension This part shows a metaphor of Lincoln with and his effort and loneliness in fighting for his people. In line 18-19, In the swamp in secluded recesses / A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song, refers to Lincoln in his own mind, himself, wanted to end the slavery. The next lines of this part show that Lincoln seemed to be alone in fighting for the freedom, as he fought for slavery with very little support. It is like he has this ideal of abolishing slavery, but a lot of American people, especially in the Southern America who practiced slavery, were against it. In line 23, the bird sings a Song of the bleeding throat. This phrase is an overstatement of figurative language. It means that the song is so sad that it feels like its throat is bleeding. One s throat can never be bleeding unless it is gotten an illness, but not just because of sadness and singing. It expresses its grief through the sad song, because it can not stand anymore to hold the sadness inside. Even though he has to pay it with his blood, Lincoln fought for the freedom from slavery because he could not stand anymore to see the slavery in his country.

14 24 The other symbol is the sentence in line 25, If thou wast not granted to sing, thou would st surely die. It is also an overstatement of figurative language. It seems that if it does not express it, it will suffer so much that it feels like want to die. Hence, if Lincoln did not fight for the slavery, he will also die in seeing his beloved country practicing slavery and seeing the unfair situation, where they who practiced slavery had the joy while the slaves suffered The Fifth Part The fifth part is talking about the journey of Lincoln s coffin. Lincoln s body is buried in his home town, Springfield, Illinois. As he died in Washington D.C., the coffin of Lincoln s body is carried by train from there through the night and day to be buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. 5 (26) Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid cities, (27) Amid lanes and through old woods, where lately the violets peep'd from the ground, spotting the gray debris, (28) Amid the grass in the fields each side of the lanes, passing the endless grass, (29) Passing the yellow-spear'd wheat, every grain from its shroud in the dark-brown fields uprisen, (30) Passing the apple-tree blows of white and pink in the orchards, (31) Carrying a corpse to where it shall rest in the grave, (32) Night and day journeys a coffin Oneiric Dimension The word Coffin (line 32) is a symbol of oneiric dimension as it is related to death. Coffin is a box in which a dead body is buried or cremated (Hornby, 2003: 229). On his journey back to his hometown, Lincoln s body passed

15 25 through many things. That moment was spring, where plants were in bloom, and the blooming plants welcomed and saluted him for the last time until he arrived in the burial Poetic Dimension Violets that lately peeped from the ground (line 27) refer to the madness and cruelty of the Civil War that caused so much pain. Violet or purple colour here is related to madness and cruelty (Stone, 2006:28). The grass in the fields (line 28) refers to American people, while each side of the lanes (line 28) refers to the Northern and Southern America that fought against each other in the American Civil War. Before he went to the final rest, Lincoln had passed all of them The Sixth Part The journey of the coffin is continued to the sixth part. While the fifth part talks about the journey through the land with the scenery of the nature, this part talks about the journey through the cities and the people who were mourning, singing dirges while waiting for the coffin to passed by. 6 (33) Coffin that passes through lanes and streets, (34) Through day and night with the great cloud darkening the land, (35) With the pomp of the inloop'd flags with the cities draped in black, (36) With the show of the States themselves as of crepeveil'd women standing, (37) With processions long and winding and the flambeaus of the night,

16 26 (38) With the countless torches lit, with the silent sea of faces and the unbared heads, (39) With the waiting depot, the arriving coffin, and the sombre faces, (40) With dirges through the night, with the thousand voices rising strong and solemn, (41) With all the mournful voices of the dirges pour'd around the coffin, (42) The dim-lit churches and the shuddering organs -- where amid these you journey, (43) With the tolling bells' perpetual clang, (44) Here, coffin that slowly passes, (45) I give you a sprig of lilac Poetic Dimension Everybody seemed to be sad on the death of Lincoln. The cities draped in black (line 35) suggest that the people of America were mourning on the death, as black colour is related to death. Along the journey, the whole America mourns. Not only the people, but also the natures and the cities mourn for him. All of them sing the dirges while waiting for the coffin. As the coffin passes them, they give their last salutation to Lincoln, and so does Whitman. He shows his love and gives his honour and respect to Lincoln s coffin in the form of the sprig of lilac that he has broken from its bush in his dooryard The Seventh Part In this part, the word coffin, the symbol of oneiric dimension appears again. The other symbol of oneiric dimension is death, which is appeared three times. Other symbols are roses and lilies, which belong to symbols of cosmic dimension.

17 27 Here, Whitman explains that the offering of the blossoms of lilac and the leaves is not only for Lincoln, but for all of the dead, especially for them who died in the Civil War in America that has just ended a few days before the assassination. It is identified by the phrase Nor for you, for one alone (line 46). This phrase is not only for the offering of flowers, but also the song that Whitman sings through the hermit thrush. Although at first he seems only offer the gift for the person he loves, but in this part, Whitman explains that he dedicates these offerings for many people. 7 (46) (Nor for you, for one alone, (47) Blossoms and branches green to coffins all I bring, (48) For fresh as the morning, thus would I chant a song for you O sane and sacred death. (49) All over bouquets of roses, (50) O death, I cover you with roses and early lilies, (51) But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first, (52) Copious I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes, (53) With loaded arms I come, pouring for you, (54) For you and the coffins all of you, O death.) Cosmic Dimension Whitman adds the offering, which at first is only a sprig of lilac, now he covers the dead also with roses and lilies (line 50). The flower rose symbolizes love and friendship, while lily symbolizes majesty and purity. He gives roses which represent the love that he feels for Lincoln and a friendship to him. Even though he is not truly has a friendship with Lincoln, but he adores him and consider him as a friend, even more than friend. Yet, many people want to have a friendship with him as they know his nice attitudes. Lilies that he gives represent the majesty of Lincoln. As the leader of America at that time, he is a powerful

18 28 person. The purity that identified by the lilies represent Whitman s heart in considering Lincoln as the leader of the country, the one he adores and as his friend, and also represent the purity of love that he feels to Lincoln. Besides that, Whitman also emphasizes the sprigs of lilac that he breaks. The sprigs of lilac that symbolize the love, honour and respect are abundantly, as he states that it is copious (line 52) and his arms are loaded with those sprigs (line 53). At first, he only breaks a sprig for a symbol, but now he breaks so many sprigs to cover the coffin. He wants to cover the sadness that causes by the death and tries to accept it, because it is something that nobody can avoid The Eighth Part This part talks about the star that visits Whitman before the assassination of Lincoln. It explains why the star droops, which is told before in the beginning of the poem. There are some symbols of cosmic dimension, which are orb, heaven, and sky. 8 (55) O western orb sailing the heaven, (56) Now I know what you must have meant as a month since I walk'd, (57) As I walk'd in silence the transparent shadowy night, (58) As I saw you had something to tell as you bent to me night after night, (59) As you droop'd from the sky low down as if to my side, (while the other stars all look'd on,) (60) As we wander'd together the solemn night, (for something I know not what kept me from sleep,) (61) As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west how full you were of woe, (62) As I stood on the rising ground in the breeze in the cool transparent night, (63) As I watch'd where you pass'd and was lost in the netherward black of the night,

19 29 (64) As my soul in its trouble dissatisfied sank, as where you sad orb, (65) Concluded, dropt in the night, and was gone Cosmic Dimension In this part, the star is described as an orb (line 55), which is strengthen the impression on powerful that refers to the star at the beginning of the poem. Orb is an object shaped like a ball, especially the sun or moon (Hornby, 2003: 892). Green (2006: 840) said that the sun is a star. The sun is so powerful that it gives energy to the Earth. Besides that, as stated in the Oxford Advanced Learner s Dictionary (2003: 892), the thing that king or queen bring in a formal ceremonies is called an orb, and it symbolizes the power that the king or queen have. Therefore, the word orb symbolizes power that the star has, which means the power of Lincoln as a leader Oneiric Dimension A month before Lincoln s assassination, Whitman dreams about the death but he does not understand what the meaning of his dream is yet. In the dream, Lincoln, which is represent by the orb, is on the edge of the world and looks so sad (line 61). In line 63, black of the night suggests death. Black colour is often connected with darkness and death, as Stone (2006:30) stated that black is associated with night and death. That night when Whitman sees the star, he sees that it disappears from the sky because the night that is so dark covers it. Lincoln disappears from the world because the death takes him away.

20 Poetic Dimension The poetic dimension in this part shown in the phrase The western orb sailing the heaven (line 55) is a metaphor. The western orb is Lincoln. Line is talking about the nights when the persona met Lincoln. Now I know what you must have meant as a month since I walk d (line 56) refers to the night on the day of Lincoln s second inauguration, March 4 th 2865, which was a month before his assassination. Whitman wrote: I saw him on his return, at three o clock, after the performance was over. He was in his plain two-horse barouche, and look d very much worn and tired;.yet all the goodness, tenderness, sadness, and canny shrewdness, underneath the furrows.by his side sad his little boy, of then years. There were no soldiers. (Foerster and Falk, 1962: 624) Furthermore, the sentences As I walk'd in silence the transparent shadowy night, / As I saw you had something to tell as you bent to me night after night (line 57-58) refer to Whitman s meeting to Lincoln on some of the nights when the president passed the place Whitman lived. Foerster and Falk (1962: 624) stated Whitman s writing about Lincoln in the year of Gettysburg. Whitman wrote: I see the President almost every day, as I happen to live where he passes to or from his lodgings out of town.the deep-cut lines, the eyes, always to me with a deep latent sadness in the expression. We have got so that we exchange bows. That night after night when they met, they exchanged bows. There, Whitman just realized that on those nights when they met, there was something strange. It seemed like there were something that Lincoln wanted to tell the world, but had not enough time to do so. On that night, Whitman could not sleep, and the month after, he just knew that that was a sign of Lincoln s death.

21 The Ninth Part In the ninth part, there are two symbols of cosmic dimension; singer, which is the bird, and the star. 9 (66) Sing on there in the swamp, (67) O singer bashful and tender, I hear your notes, I hear your call, (68) I hear, I come presently, I understand you, (69) But a moment I linger, for the lustrous star has detain'd me, (70) The star my departing comrade holds and detains me Cosmic dimension Even though the bird is not mentioned in this part, it can be determined that the singer in line 66 and 67 is the bird, as in the fourth part, it is the one that comes up with a song. Same as the bird in the fourth part, the singer in this part is also a symbol of cosmic dimension. The singer that is said to be bashful and tender (line 67) suggests the character of the bird which is easily get hurt. It supports the description in the fourth part when it sings in a deep sadness because of the death. The death of Lincoln hurt it so bad that makes it sings such a sad song. In this part, Whitman is really with the bird. He listens and understands his companion; he listens and understands the sad song because it also expresses his deep grief. At the same time as he concern on his grief, the memory of Lincoln, which is represented by the lustrous star, catches the attention of him. The word star, as the symbol of cosmic dimension comes up again in this part. This time, Lincoln is said as a lustrous star (line 69). For Whitman,

22 32 Lincoln is a shining star and he adores him so much. Although he is a shining star, a leader of a country, he has a gentle heart. Even though he is a war leader, he is a peace loving man. Besides symbolizes Lincoln himself, the lustrous star here also symbolizes the memory of Lincoln. The memory catches the attention of him while he is listening and pays attention to the song of the bird. Whitman considers him as his friend with the same ideas and called him comrade (line 70). Lincoln is in the Republican Party, and in 1864, together with War Democrats, it formed the Union Party (Boritt, 2006: 324). Whitman pro democracy, and as the parties are united, they are now at the same side. They both have the same ideas about democracy. That is why Whitman called him comrade, just like a friend in the same political party. Moreover, even Lincoln does not know him, Whitman considers him as his friend, as he really likes him. The word comrade supports the symbol of star, which is refers to Lincoln Poetic Dimension The phrase Sing on there in the swamp (line 66) is a command that ask Lincoln to keep on fighting whatever the situation is. In the next line, Lincoln is said to be bashful and tender. As the president of the United States, he was powerful. He had a charisma as a leader and looked very strong, just like a man with no fear. However, deep inside him, he is a gentle person. It can be seen from his fought for slavery, where he could not stand to see some people suffered because of the others practiced slavery. Meanwhile, the sentences I hear your notes, I hear your call, / I hear, I come presently, I understand you (line 67-68) refers to the song that Lincoln

23 33 sang, which was his speech. By that song, Lincoln called the people and told them what was bad to keep on practicing slavery, but only some people understood and realized, including the persona. Finally, the sentence for the lustrous star has detain d me (line 69) means that Lincoln, the shining star, held the persona with his effort, fought, success, and loving heart that made people adore him The Tenth Part In the tenth part, Whitman is wondering what great gift he should give to the great Lincoln. There are three symbols of cosmic dimension; sea-winds, Eastern sea and Western sea, and one symbol of poetic dimension; large sweet soul. 10 (71) O how shall I warble myself for the dead one there I loved? (72) And how shall I deck my soul for the large sweet soul that has gone? (73) And what shall my perfume be for the grave of him I love? (74) Sea-winds blown from the east and west, (75) Blown from the Eastern sea and blown from the Western sea, till there on the prairies meeting, (76) These and with these and the breath of my chant, (77) I'll perfume the grave of him I love Symbols of Cosmic Dimension The word Wind is air that moves quickly as a result of natural forces (Hornby, 2003: 1482), and sea-winds are the wind that is found at and around the sea. As the earth is covered with water, it has many seas and some of them

24 34 are huge. East and west are located oppositely. As the earth is round, it means that from the east to the west is around the earth Poetic Dimension The phrase large sweet soul is a personification of figurative language. In line 72, Lincoln, which is represented by the star symbol, is considered as a large sweet soul. It is not his appearance that is large, but suggests Lincoln s power. He is an outstanding and powerful person as he succeeded in doing many of his tasks. The sweet soul suggests Lincoln s nice personality. It can be seen from his debates and fights against slavery to help his people out from it, and he is said to be a peace loving man (Boritt, 2006: 310) The Eleventh Part The eleventh part is the continuation from the tenth part, which is talking about the gift that Whitman wants to give to Lincoln on his burial house. Most lines of this part are imagery, which belong to symbols of poetic dimension, but there are also one symbol of cosmic dimension and one oneiric dimension. 11 (78) O what shall I hang on the chamber walls? (79) And what shall the pictures be that I hang on the walls, (80) To adorn the burial-house of him I love? (81) Pictures of growing spring and farms and homes, (82) With the Fourth-month eve at sundown, and the gray smoke lucid and bright, (83) With floods of the yellow gold of the gorgeous, indolent, sinking sun, burning, expanding the air,

25 35 (84) With the fresh sweet herbage under foot, and the pale green leaves of the trees prolific, (85) In the distance of the flowing glaze, the breast of the river, with a wind-dapple here and there, (86) With ranging hills on the banks, with many a line against the sky, and shadows, (87) And the city at hand with dwellings so dense, and stacks of chimneys, (88) And all the scenes of life and the workshops, and the workmen homeward returning Cosmic Dimension The symbol of cosmic dimension is found in line 82, the phrase With the Fourth-month eve at sundown. This phrase refers to the time of Lincoln s assassination, which happens on April 14 th, 1865, as April is the fourth month of the year. The following eve means the night before an event, which refers to the evening before Lincoln s death. At sundown means at the end of the day, this refers to the assassination that happens at the evening Oneiric Dimension The symbol of oneiric dimension in this part is the gray smoke line 82. Gray colour is associated with neutrality. As the happening at that night is a sad event, which is Lincoln s assassination, so the gray colour here means sadness. The gray smoke is said to be lucid and bright, which means that the sadness is clearly portrayed and really felt The Twelfth Part In this part, Whitman talks about the land, America, from South to the North, with the scene of the cities that shine.

26 36 12 (89) Lo, body and soul -- this land, (90) My own Manhattan with spires, and the sparkling and hurrying tides, and the ships, (91) The varied and ample land, the South and the North in the light, Ohio's shores and flashing Missouri, (92) And ever the far-spreading prairies cover'd with grass and corn. (93) Lo, the most excellent sun so calm and haughty, (94) The violet and purple morn with just-felt breezes, (95) The gentle soft-born measureless light, (96) The miracle spreading bathing all, the fulfill'd noon, (97) The coming eve delicious, the welcome night and the stars, (98) Over my cities shining all, enveloping man and land Poetic Dimension The gentle soft-born measureless light (line 95) refers to Lincoln. He was born and rose from humble origin, but he became a light of the nation, a leader that the people of America were longing for. His birth brings miracle (line 96) to America. To ever have him as the leader of the nation, America has experienced a great moment, and perhaps the greatest moment. Lincoln has fulfilled (line 96) the American dreams. If he did not end the slavery and united the states, there will be no United States that is known as a prosperous and important country (Boritt, 2006: 310) The Thirteenth Part In this part, Whitman asks the bird to keep on expressing the sadness through the song, as he really likes the song and praise the bird for its beautiful

27 37 voice. There are two symbols of cosmic dimension, which are star and lilac, and one symbol of oneiric dimension, which is gray colour. 13 (99) Sing on, sing on, you gray-brown bird, (100) Sing from the swamps, the recesses, pour your chant from the bushes, (101) Limitless out of the dusk, out of the cedars and pines. (102) Sing on dearest brother, warble your reedy song, (103) Loud human song, with voice of uttermost woe. (104) O liquid and free and tender! (105) O wild and loose to my soul -- O wondrous singer! (106) You only I hear -- yet the star holds me, (but will soon depart,) (107) Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me Cosmic Dimension The symbols of cosmic dimension in this part are the three major symbols of this poem, which are the bird, the star and the lilac. The symbols are just repeating from the previous parts that talks about these three symbols. All of them are metaphor. The star symbolizes Lincoln as a great president, the lilac symbolizes Lincoln as a great person, and the bird with its song symbolizes Lincoln as a person who fought for the freedom from slavery and keeps the states united Poetic Dimension In line 99, the persona kept on supporting Lincoln in his fought for slavery. He called He asked Lincoln not to keep his difficulties in abolishing slavery himself but to speak up, to pour out his difficulties and worries to share, in order to make him feel lighter.

28 38 The song of the bird which is liquid and free and tender (line 104) is a connotation, which belongs to the symbol of poetic dimension. The word liquid refers to the song that is sung by the bird, which is changing, sometimes in a high and sometimes in a low pitch. The way that hermit thrush sings is indeed changing between high and low pitch, but in this poem, it refers to the indescribable feeling that is unstable. The feeling is still miserable that even it is already calm down, the terrible feeling can rise again when it remembers the death. The word free in the same line also refers to the song that is sung by the bird, as the bird says anything to express its sadness through the song. The bird is freely to choose what words it wants to use in its song. It suggests that Lincoln is free in expressing his grief and sadness through the song of the bird; through this poem. Still in the same line, the word tender suggests that the song is hurting. The people who listen to it will know how full of woe and sadness the song is, and perhaps understand how hurt the feeling of the singer is. The song is wild and loose (line 105) to the poet s soul. The word Wild suggests a strong feeling of the sadness, and loose suggests uncontrolled. Therefore, it means that the sadness can not be controlled anymore and so it is poured into a great expression to release some pain inside. The lines You only I hear -- yet the star holds me, (but will soon depart) / Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me (line 106 and 107) is a statement of Whitman s support for Lincoln. The persona adored Lincoln as a great president of the United States with the things he fought for, and as a great person with great character that will be remembered always, but at that

29 39 moment, the persona only concerned on the thoughts of Lincoln s ideal of abolishing slavery The Fourteenth Part The Fourteenth part is the longest part in this poem and it contains the carol of death that is sung by the bird. At the beginning, it talks about the situation in America at that time, with its scenery and its people s activities. There are so many symbols of poetic dimension in this part, which is imagery. 14 (108) Now while I sat in the day and look'd forth, (109) In the close of the day with its light and the fields of spring, and the farmers preparing their crops, (110) In the large unconscious scenery of my land with its lakes and forests, (111) In the heavenly aerial beauty, (after the perturb'd winds and storms,) (112) Under the arching heavens of the afternoon swift passing, and the voices of children and women, (113) The many-moving sea-tides, and I saw the ships how they sail'd, (114) And the summer approaching with richness, and the fields all busy with labor, (115) And the infinite separate houses, how they all went on, each with its meals and minutia of daily usages, (116) And the streets how their throbbings throbb'd, and the cities pent -- lo, then and there, (117) Falling upon them all and among them all, enveloping me with the rest, (118) Appear'd the cloud, appear'd the long black trail, (119) And I knew death, its thought, and the sacred knowledge of death. (120) Then with the knowledge of death as walking one side of me, (121) And the thought of death close-walking the other side of me, (122) And I in the middle as with companions, and as holding the hands of companions,

30 40 (123) I fled forth to the hiding receiving night that talks not, (124) Down to the shores of the water, the path by the swamp in the dimness, (125) To the solemn shadowy cedars and the ghostly pines so still. (126) And the singer so shy to the rest receiv'd me, (127) The gray-brown bird I know received us comrades three, (128) And he sang the carol of death, and a verse for him I love. (129) From deep secluded recesses, (130) From the fragrant cedars and the ghostly pines so still, (131) Came the carol of the bird. (132) And the charm of the carol rapt me, (133) As I held as if by their hands my comrades in the night, (134) And the voice of my spirit tallied the song of the bird. (135) Come lovely and soothing death, (136) Undulate round the world, serenely arriving, arriving, (137) In the day, in the night, to all, to each, (138) Sooner or later delicate death. (139) Prais'd be the fathomless universe, (140) For life and joy, and for objects and knowledge curious, (141) And for love, sweet love -- but praise! praise! praise! (142) For the sure-enwinding arms of cool-enfolding death. (143) Dark mother always gliding near with soft feet, (144) Have none chanted for thee a chant of fullest welcome? (145) Then I chant it for thee, I glorify thee above all, (146) I bring thee a song that when thou must indeed come, come unfalteringly. (147) Approach strong deliveress, (148) When it is so, when you have taken them I joyously sing the dead,

31 41 (149) Lost in the loving floating ocean of thee, (150) Laved in the flood of thy bliss, O death. (151) From me to thee glad serenades, (152) Dances for thee I propose saluting thee, adornments and feastings for thee, (153) And the sights of the open landscape and the highspread sky are fitting, (154) And life and the fields, and the huge and thoughtful night. (155) The night in silence under many a star, (156) The ocean shore and the husky whispering wave whose voice I know, (157) And the soul turning to thee O vast and well-veil'd death, (158) And the body gratefully nestling close to thee. (159) Over the treetops I float thee a song, (160) Over the rising and sinking waves, over the myriad fields and the prairies wide, (161) Over the dense-packed cities and all the teeming wharves and ways, (162) I float this carol with joy, with joy to thee O death Cosmic Dimension The gray-brown bird in line 127 also refers to Lincoln. While in the previous parts his song was his ideal of abolishing slavery, in this part, it was his reconciliation with death. Not only Lincoln who reconcile with death, but also Whitman Oneiric Dimension As has been analyzed in the previous part, death is a symbol of oneiric dimension. In this part, the death comes up with its thought and the sacred knowledge of death (line 119). It shows that now Whitman knows about the death. While in the last half part of the fourteenth part he can understand and

32 42 accept death, in this first half part of the part, he begins to know and understand it. It supports the symbol of the song in the fourteenth part, which is symbolizes Whitman s reconciliation with death. He knows and understands that death is beyond human s control and unavoidable, that is why human being can only accept it. It is sacred, and only God can make it happens Poetic Dimension Line refers to all of the memory related to Lincoln. Those were the last scenes of America that Lincoln could feel, the scenes that perhaps would not be able to be seen if Lincoln was failed to win the war and unite the states. His dreams and efforts to make America better were closed as the death had taken him away. The death has come, and people just have to accept it however. From the daily routine of America, the busyness, the tiring activities and efforts that had been done, and the victory that had been achieved; now it was the time to rest, as the death has come. The carol of the bird ( ) is the acceptance of death. Here, the death is said to be lovely and soothing (line 135), and delicate (line 138). It shows that Whitman really can accept the death and he understand that the death is not only bring sadness but it also can be lovely, soothing and delicate as it give the dead a rest after walking in a tough journey in the tough world. Live in this world is hard and tough. People deal with problems everyday, whether they are big or small. Therefore, death can be considered soothing as the dead will not deal with his problem anymore. In his life, Lincoln experiences ups and downs. He lives in a pretty hard world. He just gets back from the American Civil War,

33 43 which is considered as the bloodiest war in U.S. history (Boritt, 2006: 310). During the war, he has a very hard time. He eats and sleeps a little and almost no time to relax. He tries hard to prove that he is worthy, and just get the proof a few months before he died. Thinking positively, his death really can be soothing. In line 138, the death comes sooner or later. It suggests that Whitman knows that every living thing must die; it is just a matter of time. The death is called as a Dark mother (line 143), which means that the death brings life. These two words have an opposite idea. Dark is usually connected with something bad, but the word mother implies a good one. Dark here represents death, and mother represents birth, as a mother gives birth to a child. There is a positive thought in this phrase. It shows that even the death is something bad, there is something good beyond it. In this world, it is just a cycle that people come and go, born and dead The Fifteenth Part This past is talking about Whitman s sight of the past war. All the mess caused by the war, many injured and died, and the living ones suffered. 15 (163) To the tally of my soul, (164) Loud and strong kept up the gray-brown bird, (165) With pure deliberate notes spreading filling the night. (166) Loud in the pines and cedars dim, (167) Clear in the freshness moist and the swampperfume, (168) And I with my comrades there in the night. (169) While my sight that was bound in my eyes unclosed,