third was published in 1860 by a Boston publisher; however the company went bankrupt due in part to the impending Civil War. Whitman contributed his part to the war effort by working in the paymaster’s office and the Department of the Interior, but was fired by the Secretary of the Interior because he thought “Leaves of Grass” to be obscene. While he was working for the government however, he spent a significant amount of time at hospitals comforting both Union and Confederate soldiers. These experiences from the war hospitals developed into an addition to “Leaves of Grass” entitled “Drum Taps (Hall 943).” Also, Whitman was a supporter of the Union and preserving it to it’s fullest extent. He felt an enormous amount of admiration and gratitude towards President Abraham Lincoln and small portion of “Leaves of Grass” is dedicated to Lincoln. This section, entitled “Memories of President Lincoln”, contain two of Whitman’s most renowned poems, called “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and “O Captain! My Captain!”The extremely popular, rhymed, and melodramatic poem “O Captain! My Captain!” is unlike many of Whitman’s works, in that he so incredibly direct and blunt in what he is saying. For example, “O Captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done, the ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won…” and, “My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, my father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will (Whitman 420) ,” clearly symbolize the Union army’s victory and the assassination of the President. This poem shows very much Whitman’s belief that it is important for one to stand up for what one believes in and to make it clear about one’s feelings. 5.Whitman was very outspoken in his defense of the Union and suffered man...
