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 …show more content…
Whitman appeared to be using language that sounds arrogant, although on closer inspection one can find that this wording was used as an attempt to connect with the audience. Whitman stated, “The messages of great poets to each man and woman are ,Come to us on equal terms, Only then can you understand us, We are no better than you , What we enclose you enclose., What we enjoy you enjoy.”(1321, Whitman). Whitman explained that both men and women are no different than poets and that both people and poets experience life similarly, have similar thoughts, and live on somewhat equal grounds. If poets and man are no different that means all the aspects and traits about poets must apply to man as well. Man must learn to apply these traits to improve itself to become greater as individuals as well as a …show more content…
Whitman’s work has an arguable style that makes his work appear as an egotistical piece of literature for some and others may find a different deeper meaning within his work. This work is an excellent example of patriotic work that attempts better its audience throughout by making revelations and comparisons of different idea and thoughts about the nation's people. Whitman illustrates his interpretation of what a kind of person is a great person is and how they go about life. He intends to make his audience better as a whole and understand the underlying problem that some have. Whitman's writing truly expresses his feelings about his time and what he expects from them for a better
In his poem he is trying to tell the audience how instead of the free spirited America Whitman lived in, his America cared more about rules and standards over opportunity and free will. He explains America’s lack of open minds for the people who wanted to be free to be themselves when he states, “ .. and measure of poor human prose and stand before you speechless and intelligent and shaking with shame, rejected yet confessing out the soul to conform to the rhythm of thought in his naked and endless head.. And blew the suffering of America’s naked mind for love..”(2545). As a matter of fact, this influenced him to want to write on splitting away from that American culture and express himself with nothing but
“Leaves of Grass” is a well-known collection of Walt Whitman's poetry which he published. In the preface to “Leaves of Grass” Walt Whitman wrote “the United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem”. Whitman was deeply nationalist and spread his love for nature and for his country in “Leaves of Grass”. The period from 1815 to 1880 saw American manifest destiny taking place. This was the idea that America should be expanding westwards. Whitman like many Romantic writers felt an overwhelming love for their own coun...
He argues that “There was never any more inception than there is now, Nor any more youth or age than there is now, Mad will never be any more perfection than there is now”(31-33). His conviction of nationalism, which is opposite to the popular opinion, is considered to be a great work in the mid-nineteenth century United States (Trecker 11). Although Whitman’s opinions may be disagreed with and questioned by people, it is an inspiration for the combination of the religion and the science in the mid-nineteenth century United States. Whitman not only just defines the relationship between soul and body, but also inspires one to identify his individual persona. The “Song of Myself” is indeed a transition between the romanticism and the naturalism, which is a combination of both.
The poem consists of a joyous man praising himself and his life. The Speaker is clearly characterized as self-confident, stating “I celebrate myself, and sing myself”(Whitman 1). Whitman establishes that the Speaker is experienced in life-he has come to the conclusion that “What I assume you shall assume”(2). He lives a life where he has the privilege of “loaf[ing] at [his] ease”(4). Just this small act incorporated by Whitman shows the reader that the Speaker lives a peaceful life, one where he only worries about himself and his own actions.The Speaker is quickly distinguished as a cheerful man. He seems to be very satisfied with his life and even has a bright image of the future, stating “I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin”(10). Whitman’s use of diction here perfectly demonstrates his character’s optimism. The use of the words “perfect”(10) and “begin”(10) showcase the Speaker’s hopeful outlook of his long life ahead. Both the self-confidence and positive behavior Whitman creates in the passage, develops a unique persona for the Speaker. The individuality of the Speaker allows him to have the human traits of unique likes, dislikes, and aspirations based around his personality.The man has discovered a reason to live through himself, setting goals and having
(A critique of Walt Whitman’s themes and ideas in Song of Myself 6, 46, 47)
There is contrast in Whitman's view, which embraces all society, and that which surrounds him. He views all mankind and nature as intertwined in the past, present and future in one perpetual cycle of life and death. He speaks of the sameness of man and se...
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.
Whitman uses this poem to show was America is supposed to be like. He wants the country to be at peace, not just with itself, but with the countries around it,“Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,” (1). Whitman uses this line as a reference to the peace he wished America had. America was originally created with the purpose of freedom and happiness. The American people wanted the country to be a melting pot where everyone was accepted. Now, during the Civil War, everyone is fighting and the country is divided. With the Civil war dividing the nation, Whitman wished that everyone could get along. In reference to the separation of the nation Whitman says,“I will plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of America” (6). In order to return democracy and peace to America everyone needs to get along. Whitman wanted the country to be filled with people who care about each other and want to prosper together, “I will make inseparable cities with their arms about each other’s necks,/By the love of comrades,” (7-8). Whitman wanted to make the country what it once was, an open place where people could live freely, by
Early reviews of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass evince an incipient awareness of the unifying and acutely democratic aspects of the poetry. An article in the November 13th, 1856, issue of the New York Daily Times describes the modest, self-published book of twelve seemingly formless poems: "As we read it again and again, and we will confess that we have returned to it often, a singular order seems to arise out of its chaotic verses" (2). The Daily Times's identification of "order" out of "chaos" in Leaves of Grass parallels America's theoretical declaration of e pluribus unum, one out of many—a uniquely democratic objective. Also manifesting the early perception of the democratic poetic in Leaves of Grass, yet focusing more on Whitman and his content, an 1856 edition of the North American Review asserts, "Walter Whitman, an American,—one of the roughs,—no sentimentalist,—no stander above men and women, or apart from them,—no more modest than immodest,—has tried to write down here, in a sort of prose poetry, a good deal of what he has seen, felt, and guessed at in a pilgrimage of some thirty-five years" (275). Here, Whitman is seen as the archetypal American, practicing the democratic ideal of human equality. The reviewers' awareness of order out of chaos and of the ideological American attitude of equality is a written history of the problems of nineteenth-century, post-Jacksonian America, for the presence of their observations, which celebrate Whitman's democratic vision, can only suggest the absence of that vision in American politics and culture.
This poem commemorates the diversity of the country, but was also an endeavor to remind Americans of their widespread association and how important it is to accept and understand one another. Throughout the poem, he conveys an unseen connection and appreciation that prevails between all things and people. Whitman is democratic not only in his concepts but his poetic skill and style. It is important that he turns down the orthodox format of poetry, which he perceived to be noble in the past. His liberation with poetic form indicates his support for all humans. The way the words flowed and the inconsistent line lengths all conveyed the feeling of innate democracy. Whitman’s material and method of writing go together to demonstrate his values of a working-class democracy and the pleasure of life. His influence has strengthened American aspirations and goes beyond them for a larger spiritual significance. Ultimately, the readers notice throughout the poem, Whitman being a huge advocate for equality and democracy. He believed that the intelligence of the United States is communicated best through the people not in its legislature, church or judicial system. Democracy to Whitman can be perfectly defined as the belief that everyone and everything is always equal and accepted no matter who the person is and or what they
In “Leaves of Grass” Song of myself section six, the poem expresses author Walt Whitman's transcendentalism views, and emphasizes Life’s role and effect on one's mentality. The speaker is Whitman, who is confronted by a child with a question, and throughout the poem responds with incomplete thoughts instead of a direct answer for the child. The speaker wishes to achieve the answer to the question himself . Through Whitman’s syntax and symbolism he establishes a revelatory tone deeply tied to transcendentalism.
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
The poet is said to be one who can perceive the beauty of the world around them though it is argued, “men and women perceive the beauty…as well as he” (1318). In other words, the grand vision of the poet is not unique to their vocation but rather is a trait that is seen as well in the people of the United States, which creates an environment in which the vision through which both parties see the world is synonymous. Generalizing this equality and defining the poet as being “commensurate with a people” emphasizes the status of the poet further as being a symbol of the American (1316). Partnered with the argument that the poet is unsurpassed in greatness by any other individual, this pushes forth the idea that the people of the United States are the finest pin the world. As a result, the poet being seen as the average American creates a basis for which the rest of the world his placed below the United States on a hierarchy of being. Whitman constructs a characterization of the American citizen that all people should view as synonymous with the “greatest poet”, and the effect being that in the order of the universe they are at the
Walt Whitman was a great poet who profoundly influenced American culture. From his humble beginnings on the Long Island shore to his early careers working as an office boy and apprenticeship to “The Patriot”, Whitman began to develop his ideals and educate himself. Looking back to the events of his childhood, Whitman began to author great poems and wrote his famous book “Leaves of Grass.” Whitman gave America cultural roots and set an example for poets to follow. Whitman truly was America’s poet.
In his poem he reveals, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else...Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs” Whitman is exhibiting his love for America and the mass amount of achievement people encounter by living there. His poem is like a description of the various whistles he hears as people work, which to him is a sign of the assorted amounts of prosperity by these people. To Whitman, America is the beautiful place of success and when anyone comes they too will fine the creative work they have longed to