Leaves of Grass · Chapter
Transpositions explained
A radical call for role reversal in society, urging reformers, judges, and prison-keepers to exchange places with those they judge or confine, and for those who distrust the natural cycles of life to lead.
What happens
A radical call for role reversal in society, urging reformers, judges, and prison-keepers to exchange places with those they judge or confine, and for those who distrust the natural cycles of life to lead.
Themes in this chapter
Democracy and Equality
Envisions a radical equality where judges and criminals, reformers and the insane, exchange roles.
Characters to notice
- Narrator
The voice demanding societal transpositions.
Key passages
“Let the reformers descend from the stands where they are forever bawling—let an idiot or insane person appear on each of the stands;”
Let those who constantly preach from their platforms step down, and let a fool or mad person take their place.
Challenges the authority of self-appointed moralizers.
“Let judges and criminals be transposed—let the prison-keepers be put in prison—let those that were prisoners take the keys;”
Swap the roles of judges and criminals, imprison the jailers, and give the former prisoners the keys.
A radical inversion of justice and power.
“Let them that distrust birth and death lead the rest.”
Let those who doubt the meaning of birth and death guide everyone else.
Suggests that skeptics of life's fundamental mysteries should be the leaders.