Whitman

In reading Whitman’s “Beat! Beat! Drums!” I found that the poem neither challenged nor supported Mark Neely’s assertion that Whitman was more conserved with preserving the Union than he was with abolition. “Beat! Beat! Drums!” is more concerned with pointing out the tragedy of civil war than the war’s primary goal (for Union or to end slavery). Throughout the piece, Whitman makes no mention of slavery so we as readers cannot know, from this poem alone, how he felt about it. Whether or not he desires the end of slavery in the South, Whitman gives no evidence in “Beat! Beat! Drums!” for either stance on the issue. Though some may see his lack of mention of slavery to mean he does not see it as an important goal of the Civil War, it needs to be taken into account that he doesn’t mention preservation of the Union either. Therefore one cannot asses that he deems Union the reason for war and not slavery, because he writes nothing on either topic.

The only fair assessment that can be made using the evidence in the poem is that Whitman dislikes the war itself. This is not to say that he is against it, but that he sees how awful and destructive it will be. He likens the drums and bugles of battle to cannon fire and charging soldiers that “burst like a ruthless force” (line 2) figuratively into the lives of Americans. He points out the disruptions in everyday living the War brought upon the citizens caught in the middle. The bridegroom has no happiness with his bride, no one will sleep peacefully, and the war will not wait even for those crying or praying.

The language he uses to describe the drums and bugles create negative images in the reader’s mind. He writes how “fierce” the drums and how “shrill” the bugles sound. He clearly chooses not to glorify the sound of drums and trumpets marching into battle as many poets do. Line 21, “So strong you thump O terrible drums—so loud you bugles blow” also conveys the negative feeling of these instruments of war. The “terrible drums” thump, and the bugles are not played, they merely “blow” as if they commence the action by themselves. Blowing into a bugle can create any number of sounds (mostly awful ones come to mind), not necessarily the triumphant trumpet sounds commonly associated with battle in other literature. Whitman utilizes negative diction in “Beat!” to convey his dismal out look on the Civil War.

Whitman writes this poem from the exaggerated perspective of a War hawk. He, though he obviously sees the destruction war brings, urges the war on and almost makes a mockery of those who are pushing for Civil War as a solution to the country’s problems. His perspective differs from Horton’s in that Horton writes his poem “The spectator of the battle of Belmont” from an outsider’s point of view. Horton sees the destruction and tragedy of war, but also writes with a tone deeming the war necessary. He calls the soldiers “heroes” and humanizes the war, unlike Whitman who symbolizes the soldiers with unfeeling drums and bugles. The War is no less tragic, in Horton’s but will cause a good change in the United States. Timrod’s “Cotton boll” is written from the perspective of a man who loves the South and sees it as a “blessed” land. He does not speak as much about the war (literally at least) as Whitman does so it is not easy to compare their perspectives. However their poetry overlaps in some areas as it is clear the Timrod loves the South and would not like to see any unnecessary harm come to it just as Whitman does not see any good in the needless destruction of America.