Whitman drafted the poem when the Suez Canal was being constructed. The major intention of his writing was to appreciate the engineering work that allowed the completion of the canal, the intercontinental railway as well as the fixation of the Atlantic wire/cable. The poem was aimed to celebrate the engineers’ success as well as the available chance to relate with spiritual customs and other people. Through his poetic journey, Whitman has always hoped to achieve unity among the people through his poetic write-ups (Whitman, 2005).
In the poem, Whitman illuminates how fables and myths are relevant to the people of Asia. In his view on the individual’s soul and technology, Whitman explicates that the soul cannot only be delighted or be informed by mere modern science, but also by fables and myths adopted by different communities across the globe. Whitman is also enchanted by a global religious group. According to the author, India was the first country to discover the right way to the Deity. He commends the audacious spirit that measures the earth and links people. Whitman has also honored scientists for their efforts, which are not only for profit but also to allow spiritual illumination.
Whitman is of the idea that spiritual relationship relies upon material contact or at least propinquity. The physical body acts as the channel through which the soul gains an understanding of the external world. To him, therefore, the body is an entity that is worth being worshiped and should be given a particular pre-eminence. Though Whitman offers a valid and convincing argument on the pre-eminence of the body, it has been difficult to accept the claim as true since the conflict between the mind and the body on the issue of predominance is hitherto a philosophical puzzle.
In Whitman’s poem, “eroticism” has stood out. Sexual intercourse is the closest thing or the farthest point two individuals can reach in an intimate relationship. However, the limits of the body always hinder a union’s completeness. The love Whitman has for other people’s bodies, both genders are a result of his appreciation for the relationship between the soul and the body and the relationship that can sprout via physical contact.
The narrative by Hemingway (1996) has two key players, Bill and Nick. The whole narrative takes place around the cottage owned by Bill’s father. In the novel, it is revealed that Nick does not have a love for women, despite all the male friends he has. He even encourages his colleague Bill not to avoid getting into a marriage union. Nick perhaps does need affection, companionship, and domesticity, which implies that he is not completely mannish. This is because he has continually been faced with decisions of whether to be a family man or otherwise. Nick has a very strange attitude that is not women-friendly. He has developed a chauvinist behavior, however, in an instant, he makes us doubt his standpoint as he is confused about whether to be a family man or vice versa.
In Nick’s life, the ‘three-day blow’ is also emblematic of this phase. As a young adult, Nick finds himself in a dilemma when he attempts to decide on the type of individual he ought to be. Moreover, the early 20th century has seen a moment of tremendous transformation from rusticity to modernism. He has to deliberate before reaching a final decision on the way to follow in life. In the olden days, people used to make decisions concerning societal needs and preferences plus the norms and values of the community around them. In the modern world, decision-making becomes an essential aspect of one’s life as a trend and the future wellbeing of an individual highly depends on decisions made in the present (Hemingway, 1996).
The ‘three-day blow’ hence, signifies this era of transformation and pandemonium in the life of a youthful person as well as in the globe. The word, ‘three-day blow’ also has an infusion with a biblical meaning/implication, advocating the notion of the forty-day deluge, for instance. Arguably, such drastic ‘weather’ phenomena appear summoned, then, not just by changes in personal life and society, but also by spiritual verdict too (Gustaaf,1999). The decision here was supposed to be made choosing whether to enter into the ark as directed by Noah or ignore the request. In any decision made, according to the author, has a consequence to carry, and that is why those who refused to get into the ark cherished in floods.
These two authors have attempted to elucidate possible ways in which technology may transform an individual’s life. For humans to conquer the forces of nature, he has made inventions through technological advancement, which has allowed great accomplishments. Therefore, the two authors have tried to show how personal lives can be altered by the immediate milieu through technology. In a modern era, technology has become a requisite for life, and people are leading their lives depending on the technology (Gustaaf, 1999). On a personal note, technology has become a useful tool in employment creation through the internet, which has also contributed much to changing personal preferences and direction in life. Therefore, the new world of technology has transformed every starting from technology, labor, recreation, and communication.
References
Gustaaf, V., C. (1999). Emerson’s Ethics. New York, USA: University of Missouri Press.
Hemingway, E. (1996). In Our Time: The Three Day Blow. New York, USA: Scribner Publishers.
Whitman, W. (2005). Leaves of Grass: A Passage to India. New York, USA: Oxford University Press.