Portraying Individuality In 'Tears' By Walt Whitman

In life people enjoy sharing their own ideas of what they wear, how they talk, and who they hang around with. Showing individuality is very important to some people as they try to stand out from the crowd. However, the opposite is also true. Many people will hide their true colors from others in order to stay hidden inside of a group and not show individuality. This is precisely what the poem “Tears” by Walt Whitman is about. In Walt Whitman’s writing, he incorporates the theme that the way people act around others is not always what they actually feel by using imagery and metaphors because he wants people to believe they they can show individuality.

In the poem “Tears” by Walt Whitman the author uses imagery in order to implement the theme

An example of this from the text is “O shade so sedate and decorous by day, with calm countenance and regulated pace, But away at night as you fly, none looking--O then the unloosen’d ocean,” (Whitman 13-16). Without a doubt the author is able to allow the reader to create an image in his/her head, but there is a deeper meaning to this quote. When Whitman says, “O shade so sedate and decorous by day” he is using shade to signify the hiding of one's true feelings and saying that instead they are acting very calm and unhurried even good looking during the day. He adds to it with “calm countenance and regulated pace,” continuing to hide emotions and act like someone else. Whitman now takes a turn in this quote saying, “But away at night as you fly, none looking”. This also means that when nobody is around the fake goes away and the real emotions start to come out.” He furthers the

Within this poem, Whitman frequently switches from talking in a comparative standpoint to directly spelling it out for the reader. For example, Walt writes, “O storm, embodied, rising, careering with swift steps along the beach!” This piece of writing from the poem is definitely not spelled out for the reader, as it means something stronger than only what is presented. When Whitman says, “O storm, embodied, rising” he is relating this to someones feelings and how over time they are getting stronger. He continues with “careering with swift steps along the beach!” This also follows along with the first part of the quote, but expands on the side of how quickly emotions can boil up and be transformed from one emotion to another. This relates to the theme because on the outside it seems like the person is okay but on the inside they are actually filled with emotions. Clearly, Walt Whitman uses comparisons within his poem in order to demonstrate the theme that they way people act around others is not always how they feel on the inside because he wants people to believe they they can show