Sex

It is clear through the work that Whitman was a great fan of sexual relationships with a wide number and variety of people. Oftentimes, the works talk about people met and loved, casually or otherwise. While Whitman seems to have been more or less a free spirit and had no inhibitions about sex, there are also hints that the serious relationships in Whitman's life could be complicated. There is a sense of urgency and demand in relation to another person. This can be seen when Whitman tells a lover to flee because he has no idea about the poet's true nature. When the lover objects, Whitman says that he should go since the relationship is such that it would demand exclusivity and complete devotion.

Ever since the first publication of "Leaves of Grass," critics and students have raised many questions about Whitman's sexuality. The work leaves no unclear...