The Frontispiece In Walt Whitman's Work

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A cold stare, and a hand on his hip, is how Walt Whitman introduced himself to his readers in 1855. The style of Whitman’s frontispiece was uncommon for its time, a man with a loose collar and a worn hat would have been found more commonly on a farm than adorning a literary scholar in the mid-nineteenth century. Whitman wanted to show that he was no better than anyone who would read his poetry. Whitman conveyed himself to his audience by showing himself as an everyday workingman; his wrinkled shirt shows that he is use to working hard for everything that he has. The stare he gives back to his audience looks as if he is examining the reader the same way they may be examining him or his work. Whitman looks very strong, but also graceful in …show more content…

The frontispiece that she chose was one of her hero, Emily Plater. The portrait of Plater, like that of Whitman, shows a soft face on a strong individual. Plater shows noble qualities miring images that bring to mind powerful monarchs. A sword is sheathed on her hip, in a pose of peace, but a hand is on the hilt showing her ability and willingness to use the weapon if need be. Plater had obtained notoriety by fighting in battles for Lithuania against the Russians. She was so successful that she even rose to the rank of Captain. Although, Plater was battle tested, Fuller’s portrait shows a softer side of Plater. Her large eyes and flowing hair speak to the morality, beauty and virtue that were expected of women during the 1800s. A woman’s purity was supposed to be respected, and also protected. The voting rights of women were not in effect in the united states during the time of Fuller, the morality a woman had was expected to be seen through the husband and sons who could …show more content…

The woman who shall vindicate their birthright for all women; who shall teach them what to claim, and how to use what they obtain?” This quote is what fuller was calling on women to be. Fuller found her model through Plater because she was headstrong and capable, and fuller wanted these attributes to be common in all women. Fuller being a Transcendentalist, thought the women would be able to transform themselves from what they were and how they were seen, into ideal citizens who deserved the respect from everyone. Fuller was even able to see this change happening "All men are privately influenced by women; each has his wife, sister, or female friends, and is too much biased by these relations to fail of representing their interests."(Pg. 1629) She knew that it was inevitable to keep women out of the structure of influence within American society. Her thinking and influence was what brought about reforms such as women’s

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