The era of romanticism examines the dark side of human nature and deals with the unconscious. It relates to the idea that everything is individual. During the 1860’s in the U. S. society is confused because everything is changing; Civil War, emancipation of slavery, etc. The system as people know it is being reworked and we see people who were once oppressed, now experiencing freedoms never thought possible. Whitman creates imagery in his poetry, and his poetry creates an idealized image of America, an America made up of the working people. His poetry, imagery, and idealism create a world larger than life...a world the reader can actually see and feel through his poetry.
