"From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute,"
"Now I re-examine philosophies and religions, They may prove well in lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds and along the landscape and flowing currents."
Whitman's poem describes travel as a way for us to break free from the constraints of daily life and create our own journey. The open road is full of endless possibilities, and our ability to choose a path without the influence of "limits and imaginary lines" lends itself to self discovery. However, I do not believe that Whitman is saying that travel is an opportunity to leave behind everything that we have learned and start over. Instead, he suggests that the new environment that travel provides is an opportunity to reevaluate our experiences and knowledge in the context of new people, places, and persepctives. It seems that he believes that in a different setting, we will discover that some of the theories that we have learned will "not prove at all" outside of the classroom.
I whole-heartedly agree that Whitman believes travel is a way to supplement and refine all the knowledge that we learn through formal education. After all, life can't be taught in a classroom. I also think he makes the case that travel is not for everyone and that there will always be those who do not see the necessity of it - or those who believe there are more important things to be doing, such as work and school. He urges us to resist those people and join the "GREAT COMPANIONS" who have traveled before us to grow and mature through life experiences on the road.
ReplyDelete"You shall be treated to the ironical smiles and mockings of those who remain behind you;
What beckonings of love you receive, you shall only answer with passionate kisses of parting,
You shall not allow the hold of those who spread their reach’d hands toward you.
Allons! after the GREAT COMPANIONS! and to belong to them!"