Abstract
The mid-nineteenth century intellectual landscape was
Perhaps one of the most intricate and stimulating in the history
of America. During this period, the American mind was deeply
Divided between two main currents of thought: One was
Transcendental (optimistic, progressive, mythologizing, and
Idealistic), while the other was skeptical (pessimistic, retrogressive
, demythologizing, and realistic). The former was
Celebrated by extremely influential figures such as Emerson,
Whitman, Thoreau, to name but a few, as the latter was upheld by
Almost equally potent voices, those of Herman Melville and
Nathaniel Hawthorne.
What is noteworthy about the period under study is how the
Intellectual tension between the two opposing poles of that
Conflict reached its apex towards the beginning of the American
Civil War (1861-1865). One particular incident, which not only
Triggered but also crystallized a spate of the most profound
Disputes between prominent figures of both camps, was the
Controversial death of _John Brown, which this essay will try to
Explore in depth. What is even more urgent is the investigation of
The multifarious and numerous responses and reactions of the
Intelligentsia to the incident and how they marked and shaped the
Ultimate phase of the development of American thought. In
Addition, further objectives of this essay include the following:
l. To demonstrate the peculiarity of American thought and
Literature of the nineteenth century, which still have their
Discernible imprint on the modern American mind.
2. To give a glimpse of the backdrop of the American Civil War as
The most crucial event in American history, which alone led to
The birth of the United States of America as we know it today.
3 To introduce not Herman Melville, the novelist of towering
Stature and fame, but Herman Melville, the poet and lyricist.
This represents the focal point of this study, since the Civil
War was the turning point in his intellectual life and the
Catalyst, which saw him move from the land of novel-writing
Into the space of poetry and rhyme with the publication of his
Anthology Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War. From
This collection, one particular poem has been chosen as
representative for the purposes of this essay, not least because
of its unique concept and qualities of technique and style.