# Lo — Leaves of Grass character guide

> Lo in Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** When lo

**First appearance:** 0047-song-of-myself

## Who they are

Exclamatory figure representing sudden revelation or vision.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/narrator)

_romantic_

Lo is a passionate, often erotic muse or lover figure who engages the narrator in intimate, sensual dialogue.

### [America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/america)

_romantic_

America and Lo share a sensual, symbolic relationship where Lo embodies the erotic, living spirit of the nation.

### [Dread Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/dread_mother)

_family_

The Dread Mother and Lo are linked as maternal and erotic feminine forces, representing life and death intertwined.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/narrator)

_romantic_

Lo is a passionate, often erotic muse or lover figure who engages the narrator in intimate, sensual dialogue.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/narrator)

_romantic_

Lo is a passionate, often erotic muse or lover figure who engages the narrator in intimate, sensual dialogue.

### [America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/america)

_romantic_

America and Lo share a sensual, symbolic relationship where Lo embodies the erotic, living spirit of the nation.

## In the story

### [The Ship Starting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/the-ship-starting)

Exclamation marking the beginning of the scene.

### [What Place Is Besieged?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/what-place-is-besieged)

Lo is used as an exclamation to introduce the sending of the commander.

### [Lo! Keen-eyed Towering Science](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/2)

Exclamatory presence marking the visionary turn from science to the soul.

### [O Tan-Faced Prairie-Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/o-tan-faced-prairie-boy)

Used as an exclamation ('When lo!') to mark the moment of revelation when the prairie-boy's presence is recognized as the greatest gift.

### [Passage to India](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/2)

Lo is invoked as the soul is called to see God's purpose.

### [Passage to India](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/3)

Addressed as 'Lo soul' at the opening, marking the soul as the central witness of the passage.

### [Year of the Purpose Accomplish'd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/6)

Lo appears as an exclamation calling the soul to witness the retrospective brought forward, linking past and present.

### [Spain, 1873–74](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/spain-1873-74)

Used as an exclamation to mark the appearance of Freedom's face.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters/lo
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/characters