Just as leaves may constitute a metaphorical connective element in Whitman’s poem, Barnum creates a physical connective concept such as the “American Museum” that essentially “epitomizes its era.” The museum was an institution built to present a large scale interpretation of American culture during times of civil unrest, and succeeded in “[foundering] on the social tensions [that arose] from gender, ethnic, class, and racial difference” which relates quite similarly to the core of some of Whitman’s themes. Both Barnum and Whitman seem to be playing upon the notion of what really constitutes or “makes up” American life, or in Whitman’s case, life in general.
In comparing Whitman’s creation to that of Barnum’s, there is a crucial element one must note if they wish to understand the purpose in constructing an image of man or, “The American Man.” It all relates back to an abstract interpretation of the title Leaves of Grass. One may view it in a cliche manner in which the leaves are essentially components of the “Tree of Life.” Initially this concept fascinates me, so upon further research I found that, “The crude sap which is taken up from the ground is converted by the leaves into a substance which goes to build up every part of the tree and causes it to grow larger from year to year; so that instead of the tree making the leaves... the leaves really make the tree.” How perfectly this plays into Whitman’s implications of leaves and grass, in an almost quasi-literal sense. Not only do the leaves (which represent man and his actions or in Barnum’s case represent interpretations of man we can physically see etc.) cause the tree to flourish, but when they die they fall upon the grass which symbolizes reality, or the common underlying factor we may all reach if not in life, then surely in our demise.
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