Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” beautifully explores the interconnectedness of the individual and the collective. Not only through the commute itself, but through the human experience overall. Whitman says “These and all else were to me the same as they are to you, I loved well those cities, loved well the stately and rapid river, The men and women I saw were all near to me.” Our experiences will be shared by those around us, even those in the future long after. Our steps will be retraced, and the places we leave will be filled by others.

Walt Whitman seems to make a connection with everything around him on his daily commute and the people around him, how everything is connected in some shape or form. He connects “his present” while we make the same connections in our present. Every line is like a connection of the past to the present, the bridge that connects them both. In the line, “Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, how curious you are to me!” This line is played out both in the past and present, where we all are curious about the people around us that we see as we commute to where we need…

I believe that yes, Whitman does make a good case for a connection between individual and the mass of commuters. For example, in the text it says, “Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd”. This means that, despite the variety of individuals around us, we are all one unique person. Like riding a packed bus or train, or even simply walking around our city or college. Although we are all one, we are all tied to the group of people in some way. Another example stated in the text is, “These and all else were to me the same as…

In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” Walt Whitman portrays the daily commute, which we might experience as mundane, to be full of significance. He makes a good case for a connection between individual and the masses of commuters and this is seen in:  How he observes, and acknowledges his fellow commuters, understand and accept their unique stories by observing and being empathetic. By his use of words like “we”, “us” and “together”, he emphasizes their shared experiences throughout the poem. “We understand then do we not?, What I promis’d without mentioning it, have you not accepted?”(Section 8) as he expresses their mutual understanding in terms of diversity, complexity and urban experiences which…

In the poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” Walt Whitman portrays a profound connection between individuals and the mass of commuters. He captures this shared experience through the commonality and the ongoing daily commute. For instance, Whitman writes, “Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes! How curious you are to me!” Whitman conveys a sense of curiosity toward his fellow commuters, noticing their common clothing and routines. Although these commuters seem like strangers, Whitman believes that they share a common experience, creating a sense of connection that transcends the superficial differences among them.

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,…