The Old World
Trapped in the aristocratic and dictatorial traditions of Europe, the Old World is not Whitman's ideal. He criticizes the Old World for not excelling like its western cousins have already. An iconoclast, he recognizes the immense potential of the Industrial Revolution, but he condemns the Old World for refusing to adapt to these changes.
The New World
Whitman calls upon America to embody the New World. He desires to see a nation united by capitalist and democratic ideals, but he recognizes that many of his contemporaries still remain adverse to change. To Whitman, the New World is defined by the frontier attitude of conquest and the materlialist perspective on industrialization as well as the attainable but rare attitude of unity. He desires a more united country.
The New World Authors
Whitman believes the solution to the political unrest and general dissatisfaction of the American public lies in authorship. He advocates for the democratic poets, those who embrace the values of the New World along with an attitude of cooperation. Through their words, they can potentially unite an otherwise disparate landscape of competition and division.
Thomas Carlyle
Among other important political figures of his day, Carlyle finds himself criticized by Whitman for his work Shooting Niagara: and after? Since Whitman is an author, he levels aggressive critiques against his contemporaries for their lack of political motivation. He condemns Carlyle, in particular, for his perspective upon racial distinction and overall advocacy for special interests. In Whitman's eyes, no author in the present age should advocate for anything but a perspective which initiates progress and unity in the democratic climate.
