The term “American” is immediately associated with one who has originated from the United States, although the challenges of what being an American truly entails has continually manifested in many mediums throughout history. The earliest proof of an ideal of being 'an American' is the signing of the constitution, Americans as we see today created this visionary mindset from the beginning of the nation. Creative forces have both challenged and accepted the founding fathers perceptions, consequently resulting in an alteration or adaption to this initial statue of America. Walt Whitman is considered perhaps the most prestigious American poet, pioneering the controversies of American Life through the tool of poetry. Whitman who himself was born …show more content…
While pushing for the individual and independent thought, arguably contradictory, he also encourages the conception of universal contribution and togetherness, the theory that we are all as one. While at initial glance and obvious association the title of the poem makes our instinct believe that Song of Myself presents itself as a self-discovery and perhaps egotistical observation of Whitman himself. When in fact it actually expresses the negation of the term 'myself' into an abstract disclosure between an unspecific individual. The 'myself' subject matter becomes not Whitman but the reader, and you, as the reader, evolve into reading a poem about yourself, together you are experiencing the emotion, ideas and optimism that an American life encompasses. In the first stanza, declaring “what I assume you shall assume” as being an American, defines that we are all in harmony with the panorama of the nation, and each hold a relationship that excludes yet embraces the inevitable environment of our home country. Whitman also displays the natural instinct of nationalism embodied in both himself, and every American “Every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air” initiating the connection of his existence to the American reality, he is physically bound to the land that is America, therefore establishing this relationship from the beginning of Song of Myself, which continues into a 52 section poem. …show more content…
Making the point that this attitude is also what makes one an American. His America is a habitat of uniformity and a requited mind set to acceptance, the quest to perhaps influence the conservative minds of the reader, to believe this is what they should be thinking. Conceivably a connection to the intensity of the historical context looming around the period, issues such as the Civil War, which consequently happened 5 years post the publication of this poem, proving the validation of these concerns. This is most symbolically evident in the 6th section of the poem, Whitman discusses the allegorical significance of the title of his portfolio of poems, of which Song of Myself is part of, named Leaves of Grass. A child asks the 'narrator' simplistically “What is grass?” encouraging the 'narrator' to examine the emblematic principles of this common material. Whitman, and we, the readers along with him, are impelled to discover that this collective insignificance that is a single blade of grass, together becomes a significant occurrence that is a nature produced relation to fellow inhabitants of the United States. M.Walker (1985) suggests in The Literature of The United States of America, that Whitman is the most permissive of Messiahs, his tone is undeviatingly assertive, but his target is the reader's cognitive feeling, not his reason.The entire collection
Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.. Gen. ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. Vol. C. New York: Norton, 2012. 24-67. Print.
America a melting pot of different ethnicities, traditions, religions, etc. However, what does it mean to be an American? Society engraves into the minds that Americans should be wealthy, educated, and most importantly white. This description of Americans that society has is the opposite of someone of color. Langston Hughes writes “I, Too” in the perspective of African-Americans who are being oppressed, while Walt Whitman the poet of “I Hear America Singing” is viewing the opulent America.
Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. Dover Thrift ed. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2001. Print.
Walt Whitman is one of America’s most popular and most influential poets. The first edition of Whitman’s well-known Leaves of Grass first appeared in July of the poet’s thirty-sixth year. A subsequent edition of Leaves of Grass (of which there were many) incorporated a collection of Whitman’s poems that had been offered readers in 1865. The sequence added for the 1867 edition was Drum-Taps, which poetically recounts the author’s experiences of the American Civil War.
Very few people will contest that Walt Whitman may be one of the most important and influential writers in American literary history and conceivably the single most influential poet. However many have claimed that Whitman’s writing is so free form as evident in his 1855 Preface to Leaves of Grass and Song of Myself that it has no style. The poetic structures he employs are unconventional but reflect his very democratic ideals towards America. Although Whitman’s writing does not include a structure that can be easily outlined, masterfully his writing conforms itself to no style, other then its own universal and unrestricted technique. Even though Whitman’s work does not lend itself to the conventional form of poetry in the way his contemporaries such as Longfellow and Whittier do, it holds a deliberate structure, despite its sprawling style of free association.
Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a vision of the American spirit, a vision of Whitman himself. It is his cry for democracy, giving each of us a voice through his poetry. Each of us has a voice and desires, and this is Whitman's representation of our voices, the voice of America. America, the great melting pot, was founded for freedom and democracy, and this poem is his way of re-instilling these lost American ideals. In this passage from "Song of Myself" Whitman speaks through his fellow man and speaks for his fellow man when his voice is not socially acceptable to be heard.
What was an American to Walt Whitman? “I CELEBRATE myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me, as good belongs to you. (Whitman)” To Whitman an American was Democratic. Whitman celebrates both the man and the woman and he believes that we are all equal.
*Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. 3rd ed. Ed, Paul Lauter. Boston,NewYork: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
... a much bigger picture such as a lawn. Whitman also shows the each of our self-identities are vital to the universal identities when he writes about growing among different races and groups. Again, he is telling us that even though we are our own entire person, we are equal. No man is greater than anyone else. Whitman shows his transcendentalism side here because to come to this conclusion that grass is so much more than just grass, he had to look deeper than his senses or his logical knowledge of grass. Sight, taste, touch, smell, or sound couldn’t have helped him answer the boy’s question. Taking classes on the importance of grass could not have accomplished this either. Whitman shows here that a person must look inside themselves and see what their soul is telling them because at times, it can provide infinitely more wisdom than a scholar or a book ever could.
Nina Imamovic Moore Honors English 28 March 2024 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Gray The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a man who was so afraid of growing old and losing his beauty, that he sold his soul to a portrait of himself, so that the picture would change instead of him. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novel about a well-known, socially relevant man who decides that the life of being a rule follower just wasn’t enough. He came up with a potion to indulge in his impulsivity and not conform to society's moral standards. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson explore the causes of social disobedience, leading to insanity and hurting loved ones. In the present day, the idea that
He crossed the boundaries of the poetry literature and gave a poetry worth of our democracy that contributed to an immense variety of people, nationalities, races. Whitman’s self-published Leaves of Grass was inspired in part by his travels through the American frontier and by his admiration for Ralph Waldo Emerson (Poetry Foundation). He always believed in everyone being treated equally and bringing an end to slavery and racism. Through his poetry, Whitman tried to bring every people in America together by showing them what happiness, love, unison, and real knowledge looked. His poetry and its revolution changed the world of American literature
Throughout all of their sacrifices they were patient and eventually got what they believed in, and all it took was hard work, determination, and patience. Finding love in yourself and others is one of the most important virtues in life to have. In the poem “Song of Myself” Walt Whitman was a caring, observant, free spirited person who loved himself and the nature around him. As the poem says, he loves nature because he feels at home in various places throughout the country. He also describes the grass as fresh uncut hair and a blessing from the lord.
Walt Whitman is considered the foremost poet of American democracy of his time. Not only did he fully embrace it, but he believed that American democracy was more than a political system, but a way of life (Casale 48). Many of his personal experiences influenced his deeply democratic point of view (48). As a volunteer at an army hospital during the American Civil War, he saw many die and became increasingly grateful for the opportunities provided by the American government (Mirsky). Later, as he was residing in New York City, Whitman witnessed America face urbanization.
While the poem can be termed to be democratic, both in subject matter and its language, Whitman is viewed to be cataloging the ‘new’ America that he is seeing around him. The poem includes subject matter such as relationships, patriotism, heroes, family and ancestors, and a view on social commentaries too.
... United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem,” I believe he meant that the diversity of geography, culture, beliefs and work all combine to create a wonderful country. Whitman’s subject matter and style tie together to reflect his values of a working class democracy, humbleness and the enjoyment of life. Whitman’s impact has solidified American dreams (of independence, freedom, and fulfillment) and transcends, transforms them for a larger spiritual meaning.