Essay Database

Two of America’s poets that speak of gender in controversial ways are Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. The work of these poets undoubtedly stands out from other poets because they challenged conventional gender roles of their time. For the 1800’s, their poetry was democratic in both its content and its language. Walt Whitman introduced new and forbidden ideas about homosexuality in his Calamus poems, while Emily Dickinson challenged the conventional role of a wife. …

…always be remembered for their unique ways of writing and bringing forth of new and forbidden ideas about male sexuality and challenging the typical gender role of a woman. The controversial subject matter in their poetry that challenged their places in society, made them looked down upon throughout their lifetime. Now, we can look at Whitman and Dickinson and admire them for their strength to express their frustrations with these limitations through their poetry today.