Democratic Vistas

Democratic Vistas is a collection of essays by Walt Whitman, published in 1871, that critiques the state of American democracy and society following the Civil War. Whitman discusses the role of literature in shaping culture, the tensions between individualism and national identity, and the negative impacts of materialism on democratic ideals.

He advocates for a return to a more spiritual and democratic society, envisioning a future where literature plays a central role in unifying the nation.