Walt Whitman's Poetry Essay

Walt Whitman’s poetry was used to send his message to the public. With the country deep in the Civil war, Whitman wished to inform the public of his concerns. By using literary devices such as repetition and symbolism he was able to easily get his message to the people in an easy to read fashion. His message in “For You O Democracy” has a hopeful theme, which he uses to influence the people around him. Whitman uses “For You O Democracy” to influence the people of the past and of today, and to spread his message to everyone.
Whitman uses repetition, tone, and symbolism to enhance the message of his poem. In “For You O Democracy”, Whitman often repeats the phase “I will”. Whitman does this to help move the poem along. When he says, “I will”,

Whitman uses this poem to show was America is supposed to be like. He wants the country to be at peace, not just with itself, but with the countries around it,“Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,” (1). Whitman uses this line as a reference to the peace he wished America had. America was originally created with the purpose of freedom and happiness. The American people wanted the country to be a melting pot where everyone was accepted. Now, during the Civil War, everyone is fighting and the country is divided. With the Civil war dividing the nation, Whitman wished that everyone could get along. In reference to the separation of the nation Whitman says,“I will plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of America” (6). In order to return democracy and peace to America everyone needs to get along. Whitman wanted the country to be filled with people who care about each other and want to prosper together, “I will make inseparable cities with their arms about each other’s necks,/By the love of comrades,” (7-8). Whitman wanted to make the country what it once was, an open place where people could live freely, by