Leaves of Grass, Part 48 summary
Part 48 of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 2 min to read the part
In Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances, the speaker questions whether perceived reality is trustworthy and whether personal identity survives death, then finds relief in loving companionship. Holding hands with a loved man does not solve these questions, but it leaves the speaker satisfied and no longer troubled by them.
What happens
- The speaker considers whether hope and belief in existence after death rest on uncertain ideas.
- Animals, plants, people, and landscapes seem potentially misleading, with their underlying reality unknown.
- The speaker imagines that changed viewpoints could make familiar things appear entirely different or nonexistent.
- Lovers and dear friends answer these doubts through companionship and a feeling that exceeds words and reason.
- A loved man's hand leaves the speaker content despite the questions remaining unanswered.
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In this part
What to notice
The closing line locates reassurance in intimate contact. The speaker's questions remain unresolved, but their power to disturb him fades.
Quick check
What brings the speaker satisfaction despite unanswered doubts?
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