Democratic Vistas and Other Papers

Focusing on the theory of democracy, the essay critiques the rampant materialism and moral decay of America during the Gilded Age. Whitman highlights the contrast between the nation's wealth and the spiritual emptiness it conceals, urging for a transformative literature that engages and revives the reader's spirit. He advocates for a literary approach that prioritizes the reader's experience over the completeness of the text, aiming to inspire a deeper connection to democracy and the human experience.