Prompt: Blog post #3
In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” Walt Whitman portrays the daily commute, which we might experience as mundane, to be full of significance. In particular, he sees the ways the individual–the person narrating the poem–can be connected to the mass of strangers who are also engaged with commuting. Does Whitman make a good case for a connection between individual and the masses of commuters? If so, where do you see this in the poem? Or, is he unconvincing? If so, why?
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9 Comments
Tenzin (Tsering)
In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” Walt Whiteman argues that even a simple, daily commute connects individuals to the larger crowd of commuters in meaningful ways. He transforms the routine of traveling across the river into a shared experience that links people across time and space. Initially, Whitman highlights the continuity of commuting. He reflects on how future generations will take the same journey, as seen in the line, “Others will enter the gates of the ferry and across from shore to shore.” This shows that commuting is not just a personal routine but an experience repeated by many, creating a bond between individuals who travel the same paths over time.
Then, Whitman emphasizes the shared observations during the commute. In the line “Just as you feel when you look to the river and sky, so I felt,” he points out how everyone, no matter when they commute, experiences the same sights. These common experiences—watching the river and sky—unite people, even if they are strangers, by making them part of the same moment.
Lastly, Whitman touches on the connection between the individual and the crowd. When he says, “Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd,” he shows that even though we may feel like individuals, we are always part of a larger whole. Commuting brings us together, reminding us that we share the same spaces and routines with others.
In conclusion, Whitman convincingly portrays the daily commute as more than just a mundane task. He shows that it connects us to others—both
Chen Gong
I agree with you and I like your comment.
Tenzin (Tsering)
Thank you 🙂
Chen Gong
Walt Whitman makes a compelling case for a connection between individuals and the masses of commuters in his poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” He explores the shared experiences and emotions that transcend time and space, which serve as a common human experience that unites all people. Whitman reveals this commonality in human experiences through his assertion that the same physical world, the same sights, and sounds, are experienced by different people across generations. This expression is evident in the lines, “Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt, Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd…” Through this statement, he points to the shared emotional response to the natural world, which confirms that the physical act of commuting and the beauty of the journey link individuals regardless of their location and time. In addition to the shared experiences, Whitman’s direct engagement of the reader using the term “You” shows a shared space, hence connectivity. Therefore, while people may be different in the way they perceive the world, they remain connected in terms of the experiences that they have out of sharing the same space.
Adam J Gamboa
In the poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” Walt Whitman talks on how people are connected, even if each of them are strangers to one another. He shows how everyday actions like traveling together may bond people. He says, “Others the same—others who look back on me because I look’d forward to them,” for example I believe that he’s implying people who are traveling through different stages of life are connected by that path and that routine activities have the ability to bring people together. Overall, Whitman makes a strong case for how individuals and large groups of commuters are connected.
Ping Wang (she/her)
Whiteman spoke directly to the reader “I am with you, the men and women of your generation, or many generations from now”, how people in the past and the future can still be united through the shared experience of daily life, despite the separation of time and space. He paints the mundane and beautiful details of a ferry ride, a sight of all past and present passengers observe and appreciate. Lines like “Just like you feel when you look at the river and the sky, I feel it too” show that the individual connected to the masses.
Raymond Segers-Sargeant
Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” focuses on the shared experience of commuting but might overlook individual differences. The poem’s focus on the collective could overshadow individual perspectives. Additionally, Whitman’s idealized portrayal of the city might obscure underlying challenges and inequalities. A deeper exploration of urban life, including power dynamics, social structures, and personal struggles, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the human condition in New York City.
Tsering Choedon (Tse/Ring)
Whitman makes a strong case for a connection between individuals and the larger crowd of commuters in “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” He shows how shared routines, like taking the ferry, create a bond, even among strangers in New York City. For example, he reflects that future commuters will experience the same sights and emotions he did.
Whitman suggests that people are connected not only by daily activities but also by universal emotions that remain the same across time. However, some might find this view idealistic, as not everyone feels connected to strangers during their routines. Still, the poem’s power lies in its message that we are all linked through common human experiences, whether we realize it or not.
Zarin Tasneem Nishat (She/her)
In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” Walt Whitman makes a strong case for the connection between individuals and the crowd of commuters by turning an everyday ferry ride into something meaningful. He kicks things off by saying, “I see you face to face!” this gives a very comfortable insight into other people’s interaction, as it highlights their commonality. And he emphasizes that even decades from now, people, while standing on this deck, will feel in the same way, so the moment and its significance can be transcendental. We must remember that Whitman gets candid about his struggles and flaws – that’s what people do, they have their ups and downs, which furthers the idea of how these commuters are a family. Also, the river and the sky, the author reminds us, they all painted much more than splendorous exposures. All in all, he feels that all of us should embrace the fact that even within the take the train or push flight, we still have deeper relationships within the rush.