Essay On Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

Song of Myself (1892) - Walt Whitman Walt Whitman remains one of the most celebrated poets in America for playing an important role in creating American poetry identity. In Song of Myself, Walt Whitman has made proper use of various elements with the most interesting being the emphasis on ‘self’. The ‘self’ element, used in the poem, pushes for self-appreciation and the importance to follow personal ideals.
According to Whitman, the ‘self’ is regarded as a spiritual entity within human beings. Since it entails such notions as ideas and experiences, the author of the poem believes that people should focus on themselves and appreciate every step they make. In this regard, in the first section of this work of art, he narrates, “I celebrate myself, and sing myself” (Whitman 1). Nonetheless, the development and reliance on the self component is not sufficient for an individual.

In this aspect, the author aims at explaining that despite individuals have their aspirations, there are generally accepted norms that might be different from the individuals. In the section 20 of the poem, he says, "In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barleycorn less/and the good or bad I say of myself I say of them" (Whitman 177). To ensure that everything is achieved with ease, it is important that individuals try to merge their individual self with the universal. Walt Whitman is one the best poets in the history of America. He is mainly celebrated for trying to create an American identity of poetry by not applying the traditional elements, such as rhymes, only. In his work Song of Myself, one of the striking elements is the idea of ‘self’, which he uses to promote the principle of self-appreciation and also harmonization of individual and universal