In his first anthology of poems entitled “Song of Myself”, Walt Whitman reveals some of his views on democracy through the use of symbolism and free verse poetry. His use of symbolism and free verse poetry creates indeterminacy, giving the reader hints rather than answers about the nature of the poem. In the sixth part of “Song of Myself”, a child asks the narrator of the poem, “What is the grass?” (Whitman). Instead of simply giving an answer, the narrator cannot make up his mind, and stumbles on how to explain the grass to the child. Through the use of specific symbolisms, Whitman, as the narrator, explicates his views while remaining under the façade of explaining grass to the child. The views Whitman conveys remain indeterminate and unclear to the reader because the use of various literary devices. However,through the closer analysis of symbolism, free-verse poetry and metaphors, the anti-democratic and possibly anarchist views of Whitman surface.
The prevalent use of metaphors in the poem leaves room for the reader to interpret the narrator’s words while guiding the reader in the general direction of Whitman’s ideas on democracy. The narrator brings up an important thought about democracy when he says that grass is “itself a child, the produced babe of vegetation.” By comparing grass to a child, the narrator effectively conveys to the reader that democracy was created by humans. This takes importance away from democracy giving the reader the impression that since humans created democracy, humans can also take it away. Later on, according to the narrator, the grass seems to be “the beautiful uncut hair of graves,” showing that the grass is being born from death, or that mortality and death are a key part of how democracy fu...
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... narrator seems to be uncertain of how to answer the question. This question would normally be easily answered, but the narrator seems to have trouble answering the question. Why does the narrator have trouble answering this question? Whitman conveys that view that adults do not know the answers to questions about life and society any more than children. Whitman seemed to believe that everyone has an equal value or worth in society. However, in the end the narrator says that he believes that “to die is different than what anyone supposed, and luckier.” This is strange, because it suggests that Whitman may be a dissident of democracy and society. It seems as if he thinks that he would be content to have democracy die, and be replaced by something else. The message is reiterated by the literary devices Whitman uses in order to enhance the overall effect of the poem.
Walt Whitman is known for his excellence in writing and poetry during the mid 19th century in American Literature. The Leaves of Grass is one of his more memorable works of literature. The work expresses many thoughts and opinions about art, nature, and early nationalism. It also includes a multitude messages for the readers in an attempt to capture the reader and reinforce his points.Within the Preface of the work he talks about issues that he feels are important to inform his audience before they continue into the literature. These observations made by Whitman signify some importance to him in one way or another. Using his rhetorical skills, Walt Whitman attempts to educate his audience about the importance of self improvement and self awareness
Walt Whitman's seventh poem in his work, Leaves of Grass, displays the subtlety with which the poet is able to manipulate the reader's emotions. In this poem there are no particular emotional images, but the overall image painted by word choice and use of sounds is quite profound. This poem, like many others written by Walt Whitman, is somewhat somber in mood, but not morose. It is serious, but not to the point of gloom. Whitman writes concerning the general idea that everything is merged together and is one. One cannot die without being born, just as one cannot be a mother without first having one. The purpose of the poem is to show those things that are real are true and holy, and even more importantly unified. In this poem he is speaking as some sort of omnipotent being, perhaps God or a soul.
Worldviews differ from person to person. Disagreements often arise over controversial issues such as race, gender, politics, and sovereignty. In “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman and in the liner notes to the 1990 Jane's Addiction album Ritual de lo Habitual, vocalist and songwriter Perry Farrell address such divisive issues. Despite having been written more than one hundred years apart, both men share considerably similar opinions in their works regarding the treatment of social structure and personal freedoms. Whitman and Farrell address their passionate desire for equality among men, women, and people of all distinct backgrounds, as well as people’s entitlement to individual rights and truths. Conflicts as these hold significant weight in the hearts of people, therefore change is progressive and does not come quickly or easily. Thus, such issues continue to persist as popular subjects of discussion in society and writing as evident in these two works. Both authors seem to set forth the issues they find in the world and suggest the necessary means for change. The overall tone of both pieces suggests that natural worlds have transcended the need for order, law, and religion which human society is built upon and indicates that because American society has moved farther away from nature, progress toward a better world has been slow.
Whitman claims that “there was never any more inception than there is now…nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.” The remainder of the poem goes on to say that similar to the law of conservation of matter, the impending presence of any aspect of life is constant, driven only by humanities “procreant urge.” Yet rather than lazily labeling the variety of essential human traits such as youth, old age, sex and isolation; Whitman divides the world based upon his soul saying, “Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.” While at first this may appear to be a weak dichotomy that is far too lenient of evil actions, Whitman continues to write of it that “lack one lack both.” This somewhat ambiguous statement becomes clarified when observed against the larger backdrop of the idea of the self which Whitman is attempting to paint. Essentially, without the awareness or experience of ideas or actions that are decidedly not a part of your soul, it is nearly impossible to construct a genuine personal and moral code. Just as without darkness there is no light, without a definition and example of what is wrong, identifying a correct moral path becomes infinitely
American poet, Walt Whitman explores the connection between the concept of the nation and the poet as a means of further establishing the national identity of the United States of America. The preface to his collection of poetry, entitled Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855 merely 79 years after the United States was founded acts as a reinforcement of nationalist sensibilities that work to define what the American is on a internal and international scale. Within this text Whitman creates an inventory of the attributes that are defining of the poet as an individual, emphasizing the positive qualities as being linked to their vocation. Described as being equal to the average citizen, the poet is a symbol of the American, reinforcing the
role of the poet in democracy, Whitman was eager to assume that role. Whitma n
In one of the sections from the poem, “Song of Myself” Walt Whitman starts out with a child asking a question, “What is the grass?” Grass is a symbol of life. God, who created both the heavens and the earth also gave birth to life. When Whitman refers to grass as a “handkerchief of the Lord” (7), as a gift. When people look at the grass, they do not think of it as a creation but rather just a plant. Whitman refers to the grass as “a child, the produced babe of vegetation” (11, 12). Here, the grass is a metaphor for the birth of a child. In often cases, the birth of anything is celebrated because it symbolizes a new life, a new beginning.
(A critique of Walt Whitman’s themes and ideas in Song of Myself 6, 46, 47)
Whitman asks about to meaning of life to himself between “endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish” (2). The specific diction such as “endless,” “faithless,” and “foolish” in his poem creates a negative connotation, clearly trying to express
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.
The dominant themes that are more pervasive in Whitman’s poetry are democracy, life/death cycles, individualism, and nature. These themes play major roles in some of his more notable poems such as “Songs of Myself” or “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” He used democracy as a theme to bring society together, and unite everyone based on their general beliefs. He depicted life and death cycles to merge society together on a spiritual level. Despite his eagerness to unite society he also embraced individualism, and is also a persistent theme in most of his poetry. Nature was an important concept that Whitman used to convince people who there were more important things to life than class structure. He used nature connect us all, and encourage people to become less materialistic and more appreciative of life itself. There are many themes in Emily Dickenson’s poem that is very reminiscent of Whitman’s popular themes. Although there were some consistencies with the themes Whitman’s used in his own work, there were still a lot of ideas Whitman would not have agreed with.
Whitman is giving a more graphic example of how sex is a natural thing. By comparing the act of reproduction to death he shows just how natural of an act sex is. Everything that is born will eventually die. He feels that the natural curiosities of the human sexual appetites should not be denied or not discussed because of social standards. Not only is sex a "miracle" that is a part of him, but also nature and the universe, and each individual part should be celebrated.
His greatest work was ‘leaves of grass’, which is a collection of poems which he first self-published at the age of 37 in the year 1855. It was a free-verse that was loosely inspired by the Bible. It was at first criticized in his country for its ‘raw sexuality’ but was widely acclaimed elsewhere in Britain by prominent writers. It was an attempt by Whitman to get through to the ordinary American people by giving them their very own ‘epic’. He went on changing and adding material to this work until his death in the year 1892 in Camden, New Jersey. The poem ‘America’ is one of the late additions to the collection, written in 1888.
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
Although Whitman uses a great deal of structural ways to stress his ideas, he also uses many other ways of delivering his ideas. First of all, Whitman portrays himself as a public spokesman of the masses. The tone of the poem is a very loud, informative tone that grabs ones attention. The emphasis placed on the word “all” adds to the characterization of Whitman as a powerful speaker. Furthermore, Whitman takes part in his own poem. Participating in his own poem, Whitman moreover illustrates the connection between everything in life. Lastly, Whitman, most of all, celebrates universal brotherhood and democracy.