Was Walt Whitman Ever Married?
Walt Whitman was born in 1819 and is known as one of the most influential American poets of the 19th century. It’s a surprisingly commonly asked question if Walter Whitman ever married, as his most recognized work, Leaves of Grass, often calls into question his romantic relationships. According to biographer Justin Kaplan, Whitman was famously a “confirmed bachelor” and had never legally married.
While Whitman did not have a legal spouse, he maintained several intimate relationships. He lived with his companion, Fred Vaughan, from 1873 until his death in 1892, although the two were never legally married. He also had a close relationship with Peter Doyle, a former Confederate soldier, for decades after Doyle worked for Whitman as a conductor for the streetcars in Washington, D.C.
The literary editor and biographer William Sloane Kennedy declared that Whitman did not enter into a romantic relationship with anyone of the same gender, as noted in an article about Whitman he wrote for Harper’s Magazine. Despite this, Kennedy believed that Whitman had deep platonic relationships with men and women alike, as noted in his Orlando: A Biography of Virginia Woolf.
Many experts have since then suggested that the language and imagery used to describe his romantic relationships—both with men and women—in his poetry was often left intentionally ambiguous. For example, his poem “When I Heard at the Clos of Day” can be read both heterosexually and homosexually. In the poem, Whitman references “the arms of another” who he longs to embrace.
While the evidence of an intimate companion of either gender is often sparse in Whitman’s writings and biography, he certainly did not remain alone for his entire life. Whitman had a wide network of friends that often included both men and women, and it is certain that some of these relationships were close and of an intimate nature, although the exact nature of these relationships remains uncertain.
It is evident that Whitman’s poetry reflects his understanding of the nature of love and connection regardless of gender. It is clear from his poetry that Whitman had a deep respect for relationships and a commitment to celebrating them in all their forms. His influential works and unwavering belief in the importance of intimate relationships lays the foundation for modern queer theory.
Queer Readings of Walt Whitman’s Work
The ambiguity surrounding Whitman’s sexuality has prompted numerous queer readings of his work. Scholars have suggested that his metaphysical language and imagery is suggestive of a love transcending gender. His belief that sexuality and relationships cannot be defined within a heteronormative framework has been seen as a foundation of contemporary queer theory.
For example, in his poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”, Whitman is said to call into question the notion of a binary relationship between two lovers by acknowledging the presence of a third, more celestial figure: “It avails not, neither time nor place – distance avails not, I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence.”
The idea that love can exist beyond the binary framework is also reflected in Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself.” The poem reads, “For it is not me and is not you, so long as we stop not there.” This poem has been interpreted to suggest that the connection between two people is not limited to their physical forms, but to the spiritual and metaphysical connection they share. This reading suggests Whitman’s broader message of the universality of love.
Popular Perception of Walt Whitman
The popular perception of Whitman as a gay poet has been both intensifying and softening in recent years. He is often compared to other queer poets such as Audre Lorde and Oscar Wilde, and his work has been embraced by members of the LGBTQ community. Despite this, there is still significant debate about Whitman’s sexuality and intimate relationships.
It is therefore not surprising that, despite the ambiguity surrounding his romantic relationships, Whitman is still considered by many to be an important symbol of queerness. Regardless of his personal life, his poems are undeniably rich in his embrace of all types of love.
Comparing Whitman’s Work to Other Queer Writers
When comparing Whitman’s work to other queer writers, the differences between their perspectives and artistic approaches become stark. For example, Wilde famously explores the binary nature of love and same-gender relationships in his works, whereas Whitman often avoids this topic altogether. In contrast, Whitman often emphasizes the spiritual nature of love, which he believes is shared by all people, regardless of gender.
Whitman’s writing style also differs from other queer writers. His poetic works are often marked by their lack of narrative structure and focus on lyricism. This style is echoed in other queer writers, such as Gertrude Stein, but Whitman often replaces the narrative with a more abstract and spiritual exploration of the nature of love.
Importance of Walt Whitman’s Work and Legacy
Despite the ambiguity surrounding Whitman’s romantic relationships and sexuality, his works are undeniably important to the history of queer literature. His exploration of love as a spiritual connection between two individuals and his refusal to label relationships based on gender has been oft-cited as an important precursor to modern queer literature.
Whitman’s works are widely regarded as some of the most influential and important works of American poetry. While the exact nature of his romantic relationships is debatable, he had a profound impact on the way we think about love and human connection. His legacy is an enduring testament to the power of love in all its forms.
Whitman’s Relationship to Contemporary Queer Literature
Whitman’s writings have had a lasting impact on the way queer literature is developed. Writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde have drawn on Whitman’s exploration of love from a queer perspective in their own works.
Gay and lesbian scholars have noted Whitman’s influence on contemporary queer theory as well. His writings have been used to support modern queer theories on gender, sexuality and identity. For instance, his work has been used to challenge the notions of fixed gender roles, and to question the boundaries of traditional monogamy.
Given the importance of Whitman’s work and its influence on queer literature and queer theory, the question of his sexuality has continued to be the subject of debate. While the evidence suggests that Whitman was a “confirmed bachelor,” this label does not diminish the strength of the relationships he had, or the connection he formed with his readers.
Whitman’s Relevance to LGBT Communities
Whitman’s work remains an important source of inspiration for many in the LGBT community. His refusal to label relationships based on gender is an important example for LGBT individuals, who often feel excluded from traditional definitions of relationships. Furthermore, the ambiguity in Whitman’s work allows readers to find their own interpretations, giving them a sense of ownership over the meanings of his work.
Whitman’s legacy is not limited to his works. He was also an outspoken advocate of LGBT rights in his time. This is evident in his poem “Calamus”, which negates the notion of a gender hierarchy and emphasizes the importance of same-gender relationships. Furthermore, his willingness to live openly as a confirmed bachelor—despite social norms of marriage—has served as an example of courage and resilience to many.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although Walt Whitman was never legally married, he maintained many intimate relationships throughout his life. His works included a variety of romantic relationships and explored the spiritual nature of love, often transcending gender. His writings have provided a valuable source for LGBT literature and theory, and his legacy serves as an example of courage and resilience for LGBT communities.
