Who Is Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

Walt Whitman is the author of a book titled Leaves of Grass. Inside this book, are many sections of one large poem. Some people who have reviewed Whitman’s work, criticized him countless times for being egoistic. Even though Whitman speaks very highly of himself, that is not the sole focus in his poem “Song of Myself”. There are many accounts throughout “Song of Myself” of Whitman uplifting others. He uses the confidence that he has in himself, to help encourage others. He is using his self-assurance to show other why and how they too can be self-confident.

In section one of “Song of Myself”, Whitman demonstrates how confident he is in himself. To show his confidence, he uses phrases such as “celebrate myself” and “sing myself”. Although this may seem egoistic, he goes on to say that he isn’t anything greater than everyone else. He is saying that he is just the same as everyone else. He writes, “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” He is saying that he is made up of the same thing that everyone else is made of and that if he can celebrate himself, then so can everyone else. This shows that he is not only focused on himself, but others as well. It also supports the point that he is using himself to uplift others.

In this section of the poem, Whitman focuses on a question a child asks, and Whitman begins to think deeply on the matter. He writes about the grass can represent the death of women and men. He even speaks about the grass representing children who had passed away. He states, “And the hints about old men and mothers, and the offspring taken soon out of their laps.” This statement carries a great amount of emotion. His use of the phrase “taken soon” shows Whitman’s sympathy for the mothers and fathers that lost a