walt whitman song of myself essay

Song of Myself

Introduction.

“Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman is not just a poem; it’s a celebration of life, freedom, and individuality 🎉🌿. First published in 1855 as part of “Leaves of Grass,” this piece has since stood as one of the cornerstones of American poetry, capturing the essence of an evolving nation and its people. Whitman wrote “Song of Myself” during a time of significant change and upheaval in the United States, and his work reflects a deep connection with the American spirit, its landscapes, and its inhabitants.

Walt Whitman, often hailed as America’s national poet, broke free from the traditional constraints of poetry to forge a new, distinctly American voice . He introduced free verse to the literary world—a style without consistent meter or rhyme but with an inherent rhythm and cadence that feels both natural and profound. Whitman’s work is characterized by its expansive themes, including democracy, love, sexuality, death, and the transcendental connection between the human soul and the cosmos.

“Song of Myself” is a journey through the self and beyond, as Whitman explores the interconnectedness of all living things. It’s a genre-defying work that blurs the lines between poetry and philosophy, offering readers an immersive experience into the mind and heart of one of the 19th century’s most influential figures.

Through his vivid imagery, candid reflections, and boundless optimism, Whitman invites us on a journey of self-discovery and universal connection. Let’s dive into the vibrant world of “Song of Myself,” where every leaf of grass and every beating heart tells a story of unity, diversity, and the beauty of existence. 🌎❤️

Plot Summary

“Song of Myself” is a unique piece in that it doesn’t follow a traditional narrative structure with a clear plotline of exposition , rising action , climax , falling action , and resolution . Instead, it’s a sprawling lyric poem that unfolds through a series of vivid vignettes, reflective passages, and philosophical musings, all interwoven to express Walt Whitman’s exploration of the self and its relationship to the broader universe.

• Exposition — The poem begins with Whitman introducing himself not just as a poet, but as a multifaceted individual who contains multitudes. He invites readers to join him on a journey of exploration, both of the self and of the vast world around them.
• Rising Action — As the poem progresses, Whitman delves into a celebration of the self and its connection to others and the natural world. He explores themes of democracy, sexuality, spirituality, and the human body as a divine creation. The rising action is characterized by Whitman’s expansive embrace of humanity in all its diversity, his reverence for the natural world, and his belief in the essential unity of all existence.
• Climax — While “Song of Myself” lacks a traditional climax , one could argue that the poem’s climactic moments are found in Whitman’s declarations of unity and empathy with all forms of life. His exultation in the shared experience of being alive, his transcendental moments of understanding, and his assertion that “every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” serve as pivotal points of emotional and philosophical crescendo .
• Falling Action — In the latter sections of the poem, Whitman reflects on the themes introduced earlier, contemplating death, the soul’s immortality, and the ongoing cycle of life. These meditations bring a sense of closure to the ideas he’s explored, suggesting a continuity and eternal connection between the individual and the cosmos.
• Resolution — The poem concludes with Whitman affirming the importance of the individual’s contribution to the collective human experience. He leaves the reader with a sense of optimism and a call to action to live fully, love freely, and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings.

“Song of Myself” is a journey through Whitman’s thoughts and feelings, his celebration of life, and his ponderings on death and what comes after. It’s a declaration of his beliefs and a testament to the power of poetry to transcend the boundaries of self and merge with the universal soul.

Character Analysis

“Song of Myself,” as a part of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass , defies traditional literary conventions by eschewing a narrative with distinct characters in favor of presenting a singular, encompassing voice—that of Whitman himself, embodying the universal self. In this sprawling lyrical masterpiece, Whitman explores, debates, and celebrates the complexities of life, identity, and interconnectedness, making the “character analysis” an exploration of the facets of Whitman’s persona and the universal human experience he aims to represent.

• Walt Whitman — Whitman presents himself not just as a poet but as everyman and everywoman, embodying the vast experiences of humanity. He is at once the observer and the participant, the individual and the collective. Through his eyes, we see the celebration of the self, the embrace of contradictions, and the acceptance of mortality. His personality is as vast as the universe, containing multitudes and embracing paradoxes.

Character Analysis Summary

Whitman’s exploration of identity, his advocacy for equality and democracy, and his celebration of the body and spirit are all conveyed through a voice that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. “Song of Myself” invites readers to find parts of themselves within its verses, reflecting the myriad ways in which we are all interconnected in the web of life. Through Whitman’s “character,” we witness a journey of self-discovery and affirmation of the human experience in all its forms.

Themes and Symbols

“Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman is rich in themes and symbols that contribute to the poem’s depth and universality. Here, we explore some of the major themes and symbols Whitman employs to convey his message of unity, individuality, and the interconnectedness of all things.

• Individuality and Universality — Whitman celebrates the uniqueness of the individual while asserting the common bond shared among all people. He emphasizes that each person is an essential part of the universe, contributing to its diversity and beauty.
• Connection with Nature — Nature serves as a constant source of inspiration and wisdom for Whitman. He sees humanity and the natural world as intrinsically linked, with each reflecting and enhancing the beauty of the other.
• Transcendence and Immortality — The poem explores themes of death and the soul’s immortality, suggesting that death is not an end but a transformation. Whitman presents the idea that the self is eternal, transcending physical boundaries.
• Body and Soul — Whitman challenges conventional views of the body, celebrating it as sacred and divine. He sees no separation between the physical and the spiritual, asserting that the body is as worthy of praise as the soul.
• Democracy and Equality — Throughout the poem, Whitman advocates for democracy and equality, reflecting his belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. His vision of democracy encompasses not just political and social equality but also spiritual and emotional unity.
• Grass — Grass is a recurring symbol in “Song of Myself,” representing the natural cycle of life and death. It signifies the democratic nature of death, which comes to everyone, and the continuity of life, as new grass grows from the old.
• The Self — The concept of the self is both a theme and a symbol in the poem. Whitman uses it to explore the multifaceted nature of identity and the interconnectedness of all beings.
• The Journey — The journey motif symbolizes the individual’s path through life, encompassing experiences, growth, and the quest for understanding and connection.
• The Sea — The sea represents the vast, unexplored depths of the soul and the universe. It symbolizes the boundless possibilities of life and the continuous cycle of ebb and flow.
• The Body — The human body is a symbol of divine creation and the physical manifestation of the soul. Whitman celebrates the body as a temple, worthy of reverence and love.

These themes and symbols weave throughout “Song of Myself,” creating a complex tapestry that celebrates the richness of existence. Whitman invites readers to see themselves and the world around them with a sense of wonder, reverence, and unity.

Style and Tone

Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” showcases a distinctive writing style and tone that have significantly contributed to its standing as a monumental work in American literature. His approach combines free verse, a deeply personal and democratic voice , and an expansive, inclusive vision that embraces all aspects of life. Here’s how these elements contribute to the poem’s mood and atmosphere :

• Free Verse : Whitman’s use of free verse was revolutionary at the time of publication. This style, characterized by its lack of consistent meter and rhyme, allowed Whitman the flexibility to mirror the natural rhythms of speech and thought, contributing to the poem’s feeling of immediacy and accessibility.
• First-Person Narrative : Whitman’s choice to write in the first person creates an intimate connection with the reader. This perspective invites readers into Whitman’s contemplations, making the poem’s exploration of life, death, and identity feel deeply personal.
• Inclusive Language : Whitman’s language deliberately reaches out to encompass a broad audience, reflecting his democratic ideals. His use of the inclusive “you” and references to various occupations, nationalities, and walks of life foster a tone of universality and camaraderie.
• Imagery and Sensory Detail : Rich imagery and sensory details bring the poem to life, engaging readers’ senses and emotions. Whitman’s descriptions of nature, the human body, and everyday scenes are vivid and evocative, contributing to the poem’s vibrant and immersive atmosphere .
• Tone Variations : The tone of “Song of Myself” is fluid and varies throughout. It ranges from celebratory and exuberant to reflective and serene, mirroring the complexities and contradictions of life itself. This variability in tone adds depth to the poem, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the human experience.
• Themes of Unity and Connection : The overarching themes of unity and connection influence the poem’s style and tone , as Whitman seeks to bridge divides between individuals, nature, and the cosmos. His style is therefore expansive and embracing, aiming to encapsulate the vastness of the human spirit and the world.
• Optimism : Despite its contemplations on death and the unknown, “Song of Myself” maintains an undercurrent of optimism. Whitman’s belief in the goodness of humanity and the continuity of the soul infuses the poem with hope and a sense of perpetual possibility.

These stylistic choices and tonal qualities make “Song of Myself” not just a poem but an experience—a journey through Whitman’s vision of the self, the nation, and the universe. Through his pioneering use of free verse and his encompassing, empathetic voice , Whitman created a work that continues to inspire and resonate with readers across generations.

Literary Devices used in Song of Myself

Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” is a treasure trove of literary devices, each contributing to the poem’s depth, rhythm, and resonance. Here are the top 10 literary devices Whitman employs to craft this masterpiece:

• Free Verse — Whitman breaks free from traditional poetic forms to use free verse, allowing for a natural flow that mirrors the spontaneity and fluidity of thought and experience.
• Repetition — The use of repetition throughout the poem emphasizes key themes and ideas, such as the unity of all beings and the cyclical nature of life and death.
• Imagery — Vivid imagery is central to Whitman’s poetry, bringing to life the physical world and the experiences of the self within it. This device helps readers visualize and emotionally connect with the poem’s content.
• Symbolism — Whitman uses symbols, such as grass, the sea, and the journey, to convey deeper meanings related to life, death, and the interconnectedness of all things.
• Cataloging — A distinctive feature of Whitman’s style is his use of long lists or catalogs to capture the diversity of American life and landscape, reinforcing the poem’s democratic ethos.
• Anaphora — This device, a type of repetition, involves the repeated use of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines, creating a rhythmic and persuasive effect.
• Personification — Whitman attributes human qualities to nature and inanimate objects, fostering a sense of kinship between the human soul and the natural world.
• Apostrophe — He often addresses abstract concepts, inanimate objects, or absent people directly, creating a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity.
• Parallelism — The use of parallel structure in phrases or sentences enhances the poem’s rhythm and reinforces its themes of unity and equality.
• Alliteration and Assonance — These sound devices contribute to the musical quality of the poem, enhancing its oral appeal and emphasizing key ideas or themes.

Whitman masterfully wields these devices to craft a poem that is both a deeply personal reflection and a universal declaration, inviting readers into a shared experience of exploration and discovery. Through “Song of Myself,” Whitman not only explores the depths of his own identity but also celebrates the collective identity of humanity, using a rich palette of literary techniques to weave a tapestry of connection and belonging.

Literary Devices Examples

• Example : The overall structure of “Song of Myself.”
• Explanation : Whitman’s use of free verse allows for a flexible, dynamic expression of ideas and emotions, mirroring the natural flow of thought and the inherent freedom in the exploration of self and the universe.
• Example : The phrase “I celebrate myself, and sing myself,” and variations thereof.
• Explanation : This repetition emphasizes the poem’s themes of self-exploration and personal identity, reinforcing the importance of the individual experience within the collective human journey.
• Example : Descriptions of the grass as “the beautiful uncut hair of graves.”
• Explanation : Whitman uses vivid imagery to create a tangible connection between the reader and the poem’s themes, in this case, linking the natural world with the cycle of life and death.
• Example : Grass symbolizes the commonality and connectedness of all life.
• Explanation : Through this symbol , Whitman conveys the democratic spirit of his vision, where every soul is valued and interconnected in the tapestry of existence.
• Example : Lists of diverse American life, occupations, and landscapes.
• Explanation : This device showcases the vast, inclusive nature of Whitman’s America, celebrating its diversity and the unity within it.
• Example : The repeated use of “I am” in various sections.
• Explanation : Anaphora reinforces the poem’s focus on the self and its relation to the broader world, highlighting Whitman’s expansive identity and empathy with all forms of life.

Personification

• Example : Nature is often described in human terms, as in the grass speaking or the sea laughing.
• Explanation : Personification blurs the lines between human and non-human, emphasizing the deep, intrinsic connections that bind the natural world to human experience.
• Example : Direct addresses to the reader or to abstract concepts, like democracy or the soul.
• Explanation : This device creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy, engaging the reader directly in the poem’s contemplative journey.

Parallelism

• Example : The structure of certain sections, where parallel phrases or clauses convey a sense of harmony and balance.
• Explanation : Parallelism in “Song of Myself” reflects the underlying unity of Whitman’s vision, emphasizing the poem’s themes of connection and equality.

Alliteration and Assonance

• Example : The use of sound repetition in phrases like “the sound of the belch’d words of my voice .”
• Explanation : These sound devices enhance the poem’s musical quality and rhythmic flow, drawing readers into the sensory experience of the text.

Through these examples, we can see how Whitman’s use of literary devices enriches “Song of Myself,” making it not only a profound exploration of the self and the universal but also a masterclass in poetic expression.

Song of Myself – FAQs

What is “Song of Myself” about? “Song of Myself” is a long form poem by Walt Whitman that explores the nature of the self, the interconnectedness of humanity, and the beauty of the natural world. It celebrates individuality, democracy, and the universal bond that ties all life together.

Who wrote “Song of Myself”? Walt Whitman, an American poet, essayist, and journalist, wrote “Song of Myself.” It is considered one of his most famous works and a cornerstone of his book Leaves of Grass .

What literary style is “Song of Myself” written in? “Song of Myself” is written in free verse, a style that Whitman is credited with popularizing in American literature. Free verse allows for a fluid, flexible expression of ideas without the constraints of traditional meter or rhyme schemes.

What are the main themes of “Song of Myself”? The main themes include the celebration of the self, the deep connection between all living beings, the transcendence of the soul, and the beauty of the natural world. Whitman also delves into themes of death and rebirth, democracy, and the physical and spiritual aspects of humanity.

How does Walt Whitman use imagery in “Song of Myself”? Whitman uses vivid, sensory imagery to bring his observations and reflections to life. His descriptions of nature, human bodies, and everyday life are rich and detailed, helping to create a tangible and immersive experience for the reader.

Why is “Song of Myself” significant? “Song of Myself” is significant for its pioneering use of free verse and its expansive, inclusive vision of America and humanity. It broke new ground in poetry, influencing countless writers and becoming a defining work of American literature.

Can “Song of Myself” be considered autobiographical? While not autobiographical in a traditional sense, “Song of Myself” does reflect Whitman’s personal philosophy, his views on nature and humanity, and his belief in the intrinsic value of the self. The poem is deeply personal yet universal in scope.

What symbol is most commonly associated with “Song of Myself”? Grass is one of the most potent symbols in “Song of Myself,” representing the cycle of life and death, the common bond shared by all living things, and the democratic spirit of America.

How does “Song of Myself” address the concept of death? Whitman views death not as an end but as a transformation and a continuation of the soul’s journey. He presents death as a natural, integral part of life’s cycle, emphasizing its role in the broader continuum of existence.

What makes “Song of Myself” a unique piece of literature? “Song of Myself” is unique for its expansive lens on life, blending deep philosophical insights with vivid imagery and a revolutionary approach to poetic form. Whitman’s embrace of contradiction, celebration of the body and soul, and unbounded optimism create a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

This quiz tests comprehension and interpretation of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” focusing on its authorship, themes, literary form, symbols, and views on death.

Identify the literary devices used in the following passage from “Song of Myself”:

“I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”

• Repetition — The phrase “myself” is repeated, emphasizing the focus on the self and the act of self-celebration.
• Parallelism — The structure of the first two lines mirrors each other, enhancing the rhythm of the passage and reinforcing the connection between the speaker and the reader.
• Assumption — The speaker assumes a shared experience or quality (“what I assume you shall assume”), suggesting a universal connection among all beings.
• Metaphor — The idea that “every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” uses the metaphor of atoms to symbolize the fundamental shared nature of all existence, reinforcing the theme of unity.
• Anaphora — Although subtle and brief, the beginning of the lines with “And” could be seen as a mild use of anaphora, contributing to the cohesion and rhythm of the passage.

This exercise highlights Whitman’s use of literary devices to convey themes of unity, self-celebration, and the interconnectedness of all life in “Song of Myself.”

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Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”, Essay Example

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Introduction

Walt Whitman continues to enjoy a reputation of being, in a sense, the poet who is not a poet.  In his day, as well as today, there is little about the work or the man that relates to traditional ideas about poetry.  There are no sweet, lengthy ballads to picturesque scenes or lovely women, and no perfectly rhymed tributes to flowers, the stars, or to love.  It is, for him, all about the reality of living.  If Whitman is viewed as the quintessential American poet, it is because his voice echoes American ideals, and is completely unconcerned with typical poetic expression and accepted notions of what poetic subject matter should reflect.  Instead, he exalts features of common men and women.  He writes poetry about sweat, and pain.  There is no rhapsodizing about the divine qualities of a running stream in a green meadow; Whitman would rather stand on a bridge and sing the praises of the rusty girders beneath his feet.   As loudly and persistently vocal as he is about his sense of self, Whitman is the blaring voice of the American individual: flawed, rough around the edges, at work, and wholly human.  In his poetry, Walt Whitman gives voice to the poetry that exists in the soul of the common man and woman, and he gives it in a joyous shout.

Song of Myself

One of the most fiercely American characteristics of Whitman binds him closely to the “everyman”, and in a very ironic way.  Whitman’s declaring of his selfhood in the appropriately named, “Song of Myself”, is relentless.  If this is a kind of egocentrism, it is everywhere, and makes itself known from the beginning.   Whitman  cannot, early on in the poem, take in the fragrances of rooms and the outdoors enough, and he desperately wants to absorb all of them.  His phrasing, however, is defiantly avaricious: “I am mad for it to be in contact with me” (Whitman 2, 10).   He wants it badly, and in a way that services his need for it, and does not place himself, as traditional poets do, as a humble supplicant to the wonder of the atmosphere.  In fact, there is nothing in his travels in the poem that may remotely make him worshipful, or lessen his implacable awareness of the importance of his own being:   “Why should I pray?/ Why should I venerate and be ceremonious?” (20,  11).    He is utterly uninterested in that sort of posturing, because he views it as blocking the truth.  This is truly a song of one man determined to stand up and bellow about everything he sees, and the pride of self roars through every stanza.

The irony, however, exists both in Whitman and in the American sensibility he represents.  That is to say, the powerfully individualistic Whitman joins forces with everyone through this celebration of self, and the effect is nearly political.  His voice is his own, he seems to be saying, but we are all brothers as well, so his voice is that of every man.  In “Song of Myself”, the apparent arrogance of self-assertion is never arrogance because every self is meant to be expressed in his cry.   He is one man, wandering the country, and he is a universal embodiment of all:  “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (1, 3).   In this approach, echoed throughout the poem as consistently as Whitman’s first-person declarations, he unites himself to the world.

He also, again, forges this alliance, not with princes and kings, but with common people everywhere, for they are to him the soul of the world. As Whitman exalts, in vivid detail, smells and debris and the wreckage of regular life, he delights in it all as the debris of the lives all ordinary people lead. It is in this debris, in fact, that Whitman seeks to find the glory within himself and with his “brothers”. He will, for example, briefly touch on a tender scene, such as spying on a sleeping baby in a cradle. He loses no time, however, in then shifting scene and sensation to the ugly; there are flies to swat away over the infant.   If he watches a boy and a girl escape up a hill to be alone, he also takes the time to peer at the bloody suicide at his feet. Every object and every simple interaction encountered is noted, and given importance: “The blab of the pave, tires of carts, sluff of boot-soles, talk of the promenaders…” (8, 9-10). Whitman, in his own way, reverses traditional poetic approach through all that he chooses to record. He does not pursue the beautiful in life, in its streets or its people, to find meaning in the beauty; instead, he is convinced that there is real beauty in the refuse of the living we do.   In this approach, Whitman essentially takes his fellow man by the hand, to draw attention to all that is ignored, yet so full of truth and power.

Whitman’s celebration of the ordinary, and of the ordinary man and women, is not ever free from the earthier aspects of living.   He makes no excuses for the cruelties and wrongs he sees and records, but believes them to be essential parts of the greater, and truly great, whole.  Then, and in keeping with the duality of the approach, he does not spare himself.  People do ugly things, people behave because they seek to gratify desires, and Whitman is as one with his fellow man in both pursuing desire, and not in any “romantic” fashion. This is the actual material of “Song of Myself”, in fact: sensuality. It is not necessarily sexual lust that runs through the verse, but more an insatiable appetite for all earthly experience.  Interestingly, he somewhat alludes to the senses of propriety he is aware of perhaps shocking, or offending:  “Copulation is no more rank to me than death is/ I believe in the flesh and in appetites” (24, 29-30). His insistence on the tapestry of all life as being of enormous, if not divine, value, empowers him to assert himself so unequivocally.  In doing so, Whitman strongly implies that old-fashioned ideas about human desire are misplaced; if we do it, in other words, it has meaning and a kind of grandeur, no matter how “unseemly” it is seen.  For him, hunger and lust are beautiful things.

Above all, Whitman is universal.  He touches and is touched by everything. Given the consistent and fiercely deliberate universality in Whitman, then, the question actually becomes: is he his own poet?  After all, the bulk of his work, and certainly “Song of Myself”, are relentless poetic efforts to forge a union with all men and all life. Every line of the poem is a determination to be as one with the common man; there is even a sense that Whitman would speak with a voice other than his own, if this were possible. In a sense, then, he renders himself not unique. In presenting himself as a kind of channel or conduit, and even as he celebrates his own state of being, he is most concerned with denying individuality, and this may suggest that he is not a truly unique voice.

The answer to this lies within the question, and not unexpectedly. However revolutionary Whitman was in his time, and leaving aside the specifically American aspect of his work, the fact remains that he stands as a unique poetic presence by virtue of that intense effort to “lose himself” in living. For one thing, as noted, he never abandons an awareness of his own senses, motives, travels, encounters, and individual impressions.  He strides, he watches, and he interacts in the scenes unfolding around him as an individual.   He shares a kettle of chowder with boatmen. He sails the Arctic and hunts polar bears. He even refers to himself by name, which is certainly removed from accepted poetic form: “Walt Whitman, a kosmos, of Manhattan the son” (24, 1). However, it only through the efforts to truly lose himself in life that he becomes the essentially unique poet that he is.  It is denial of self as exalting of self, and this is a very individual achievement. More exactly, Whitman takes a course that could be viewed as Christ-like, in that his presence is defined through the willing giving up of it. He definitely knows who he is, as a man in the world:  “I…Breathe the air but leave plenty after me/ And am not stuck up, and am in my place” (16, 32-34). It is more that this is no point to being so, to him, unless he can shed the shell and be as one with all men and life.

This is the soul of Whitman, and it is most certainly his most valued ambition. In a very literal way, and as evident in virtually every line of “Song of Myself”, he is desperately in love with all mankind, and with all of the world. To express that love, he willingly casts himself aside, except as a vessel to represent all human vessels: “When I give I give myself” (40, 10). It is the only way he can manifest his love and seek to bring everyone together as one, which is how he sees his fellow man and woman. This may be why his emphasis is so profoundly on the ordinary, and on the working class multitudes of the world. The bulk of life, they then are life, to Whitman. He will celebrate absolutely every aspect of their being, and rejoice in himself as a part of this vast and glorious whole.

Ultimately, Walt Whitman both speaks for all men and sings of himself, in a unity achieved through an unrelenting ambition to do so. He has seen the world, he has looked past the falsity of appearances, and he needs to make this world see itself, and walk with him in the process: “What is known I strip away/ I launch all men and women forward with me into the Unknown” (44, 2-3). In stanza after stanza, Whitman reinforces his lack of interest in the pretty and the conventionally “nice”. He never holds up a rose to praise it in the sunlight; instead, he digs into the ground and pulls up soil, and demands that it be perceived as the equally beautiful thing it is. As “Song of Myself” goes on, Whitman in fact leaves his selfhood to take on incarnations of men before and after him in life, and he does this to assert the wonder of mankind’s being as one, always.   We are all the same, he cries out, and everything we are and see has a profound glory to it, no matter how mundane or seemingly unattractive. In his eyes, the runaway slave is no different than the cop on the street corner, for all men are the same flesh, and share the same, human soul.  In his poetry, and very much so in “Song of Myself”, Walt Whitman does not gently pay tribute to mankind.  He digs out and displays the poetry that exists in the soul of the common man and woman, and he presents it in a joyous shout.

Whitman, W.  Leaves of Grass .  Philadelphia: Rees Welsh & Co., 1882.  Print.

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The Role of the Reader in “Song of Myself”

In his article, “Beyond the Myth of Narcissus: The Role of the Reader in Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself,’” Santiago Juan Navarro discusses the position of the reader as described in “Song of Myself.” Navarro begins by introducing the claim that “the reader has been systematically neglected in the literary analysis,” especially when discussing Whitman’s work (109). Navarro says that this could be the reason that “Song of Myself” has been received as narcissistic and possibly one-sided. Navarro uses other critically acclaimed experts, in-text citations and reflection of “Song of Myself” to really illuminate the relationship between the reader and the text.

Navarro uses G. V. Trail’s analysis, which considers Whitman’s “explanation of himself” to be “an explanation of his audience” (109). He adds in a statement from J. Mason, who says that “Song of Myself” is a “dialogue between speaker and reader which leads to vitalization and at last to comradeship” (109). These ideas of intertwinement between Whitman and his audience are interesting, as many critics have considered “Song of Myself” to be narcissistic rather than inclusive and interconnected. Navarro considers W. Iser’s The Act of Reading , which suggests that the meaning of the work can not just come from the work itself. Iser claims that we must consider the activity of the reader and their interpretations to fully understand a piece of work. 

In order to understand reader activity, Navarro uses pieces of the text to try and bridge the gap between the reader and the work. He starts with the first three lines of the poem, claiming that there is “development of these three stages: the assertion of the poets self as expressed in the text, the series of commons and cues offered in the text to allow and provoke reader response, and the final merging of the self and the other as a consequence of the text-reader interaction” (111). Navarro continues to state, “By the end of the poem, and especially from section forty six, the calls for the readers participation reach their height” (114). Navarro is referring to lines 64 and 65, in which Whitman writes, “I tramp a perpetual journey…/ Not I, not anyone else can travel that road for you,/ You must travel it for yourself,” giving the reader the opportunity to figure out their own interpretation of the words he has offered. 

Navarro concludes that, “The reader is “Song of Myself” is not the passive recipient of the traditional poetry, more is he a voyeur who contemplates with pleasure the narcissistic display of egotist” (114). This revelation changes the way I interpret the poem as well. I completely see where Navarro is coming from, suggesting that throughout “Song of Myself,” Whitman is merely trying to make communion with the reader and let them interpret for themselves. But, I do think it is a bit difficult to get past the tone of self-gratification and holiness that Whitman possesses throughout this poem. Regardless, I always think that is is abundantly important to take into consideration the role of readers in order to fully understand the magnitude of a text. What Navarro is suggesting for us to focus on is something that I fear is already overshadowed by the egotistical tone of the piece; however, it would be interesting to go back through “Song of Myself” and read it from the perspective of solely finding out the role of the reader. Possibly, where we thought Whitman was telling us exactly what to think, he was actually inviting us to solely see his perspective and then use it as we please. Overall, there are always juxtaposing ways to interpret works of poetry – and that is the main beauty of the act of reading and studying poetry in my opinion. 

Citation: Navarro, Santiago Juan. “Beyond the Myth of Narcissus: The Role of the Reader in Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself.’” Atlantis: Revista de La Asociacion Espanola de Estudios Anglo-Norteamericanos , vol. 12, no. 1, June 1990, pp. 109–14. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mzh&AN=1993065236&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

2 Responses to The Role of the Reader in “Song of Myself”

I think you did a great job contextualizing the article and I think the role of the reader in “Song of Myself” and what Whitman expected of his reader are two interesting points to consider. I found through the article I researched that Whitman “hoped for a reader that could match his vision, a reader who would collude with the poet in the creation of the material” (Mullins, Maire). I feel as if this is where his egotism got in the way of his writing because I find it hard to fathom how one of his readers could be on the same wavelength as him. There needs to be more of an ebb and flow between the author and reader, a relationship that needs to be more connected than one sided. However, I don’t believe this to mean that Whitman did not care for his reader, quite the contrary in fact.

Great discussion here. I agree that Abrie’s post offers a very sensible overview of Navarro’s article, which is itself informed by reader-response theory. Whitman is in many ways the perfect subject for such an approach because he calls out so unabashedly to his reader so many times over. The question that Dan wrestles with is whether we are called to our vision, or simply called to share his vision. He opens the road for us to decide for ourselves, but one senses that Whitman has a pretty strong sense of where this vision is headed. In any case, the robust response to Whitman over the past decade and more makes clear that Whitman opened the door for responses, and they continue to flood in.

While we can read even Whitman’s call to the other as egotistical, it also suggests loneliness and crisis: Whitman’s call to interpersonal connection and union anticipates a country teetering on Civil War that could be felt as early as 1855 when he published his poem in the first edition of Leaves. It also suggests a certain loneliness of character: Whitman, as we will learn this week, is also often cast a a solitary singer, washed up on the shores. In this sense, he needs us as much as he might want us to believe that we need him.

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Critical analysis of song of myself Essay (Critical Writing)

Interestingly, although Walt Whitman presents his poem a song of myself in first person narration, he implicitly expresses the theme of democracy. Reflecting on the social and political environment in America during the nineteenth century, he uses collective terms to pass his message to the audience.

Whitman writes his poem in free verse style for clarity and easier expression of his mind. Succinctly, he applies a simple style in his poem to emphasize on the aspect of humanity, which the American society had just embraced. Whitman combines both his artistic and poetic nature to honor and appreciate societal apprehension of democracy as critically analyzed in the next discussion.

By reading the first line of the first stanza “I CELEBRATE myself and sing myself” (Loving), the first impression the audience gets is that the poet is focusing on an individual’s life. However, as the poem unfolds the audience understands that Whitman is appreciating and honoring the democracy that prevails in America. For instance, in the seventh line of the seventh stanza, Whitman writes, “I am the mate and companion of people, all just as immortal and fathomless as myself “(Loving).

Intuitively, he is using his own personality or character to confirm the spirit of togetherness that is common in his society. According to Whitman, all people regardless of the race are equal thus; he is not only appreciating the spirit of democracy but also compelling the society to embrace the same. Therefore, Whitman uses the poem, writing it in a unique style to call for a change in the social lives of the Americans.

Furthermore, he couples a free verse style, first person narration with a unique rhythmic pattern to elaborate his message. For instance, in section one, he writes in a rhythmic nature when he says, “Houses and rooms are full of perfumes” (Loving), to show the happiness that democracy brings in households.

The application of phrases in plural form brings out the rhythm in the poem. Moreover, he applies many collective words in the poem, which highlight the issue of unity. For example, in stanza thirty-one he says, “And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren” (Loving line I). In addition, he constantly refers to grasses, which highlight togetherness. Authentically, grass and sand cannot exist singularly thus; his cautious choice of words is to motivate people to continue practicing democracy.

On the other hand, Whitman uses his experience in journalism to express his feelings about the socio-political aspects present in the society. Professionally, Whitman had acted as an instructor and a journalist with a specialty in editing articles. Therefore, his poem entailed artistic qualities due to professionalism. Literary, although he embarked on a unique writing style, the theme, rhythm, tone and other features of literature seem perfectly expressed.

In brief, from the title of the poem the song of myself, an individual may be unable to unravel the message the poem is yet to express. However, through his eloquent choice of words, Whitman expresses his satisfaction in democracy.

Besides, using the first person narration to express his message he explicitly uses the free verse style of writing that was rare in the literary world during his time. Critically, when compared to other literary works, Whitman’s poem is not only perfect but it is also important in learning institutions especially where American literature is in the curriculum.

Works Cited

Loving, Jerome. Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself . California: University of California Press, 1999. Print

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Walt Whitman “The song of Myself”

Reading the “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman I fall in love in his poems. The philosophy of his deep thoughts about the world and himself overwhelmed my mind. I tried to understand his “I” and his ”What”, tried to share his opinion about all events in the Universe. I wanted to understand every single world and sentence, every thought and intonation, wanted to be one equal thing with him. And I want to tell you guys it is impossible, just because his writing is unique and extraordinary, interesting and unbelievable. From the beginning, from the first words of the poem “Song of Myself” I thought Walt is a very selfish man, who talks about himself and his personality in majestic, grand, imperial manner. And the reader has to admire him and “assume what he assumes.” However, while reading further I changed my opinion to the opposite way. Undoubtedly, his poem is about himself but and life in America, about daily life of its citizens, about You and Me, about Us.

What the people saw every day in America of 19 th century inspired him to write his opinion about daily routine life and people. He talk about crime, murders, death, birth, woman that hurry up home from work to deliver a baby, poor people dying from the hunger, prostitution. The urban life was disgusting for him, where was no freedom, and he found it in the country area. He enjoyed the time there: ”I helped,..I hunt… Kindling a fire…falling asleep on the gathered leaves with my dog and gun by my side.” That time was a great racial and status inequality, and mainly it was a slavery time for America. Walt was not a slave but he defiantly was against any inequality in the society. He did not discriminate people by any qualities as sex, race, skin color, or material status in the society. All people on the Earth were equal for him. I guess if he could he would support every person in need like he did it for the slave from his poem.

Walt described his feeling and emotions so realistic that we get the sense of his present around us. Reading the poem we felt the smell of perfumes, “the smoke of his breath”, “the beating of his heart”, the “sniff of green leaves and dry leaves” with him and more and more and more. Reading him I had a feeling that his voice somewhere behind me and tells me everything about him, his story, history of his life. “Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems.” I had a sense of his “I” somewhere around me. Didn’t you feel the same? The poem is written that way that he makes us the witness of his life and without our wish to create the history, reading his thoughts.

In his poem he presents a lyrical hero, his “I”, who is not a single one thing in the poem. He represents himself in “I” but also every living thing on the Earth. “I” is not only in what surrounding him every day: emotions, events, people, but also something special.  He emphasizes this word a big role in his poem. He separates “I” from himself and give it a soul, something as living organism, whose role is witnessing his life. But it is a positive substance not material but “light”, “intangible” and “weightless”. I think he emphases that all people combines in ”I”, the represents of variety of people’s emotions, pain, feelings, lifes and wishes. I is not a single structure, it is many-sided thing. Sounds like he tries to speak from all of us, tries to place himself on our place: “you shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself” He is kind of guide us with his thoughts to the right way of our life destination.  His lyrical person “I” makes some kind of friendship with the reader, connect to us thought the reading to our mind. And that is how we get to know Walt Whitman. He stats that every part and element of the world, every living organism, every person on the Earth is “I “and equal, because they all have been born and dyed equally.

He shares with us his opinion about circle of life. He stats there is always and permanent moving of life creation in the world:

“Out of the procreant urge of the world.

Out of the dimness opposite equals advance, always substance and increase, always sex,

Always knit of identity,

Always disjunction, always a breed of life.”

Walt does not recognize death as something bad and as a finish of the life’s path: “the smallest sprout shows there is really no death.” He believes death temporarily exists. Death just makes a creation of life. Everything is moving forward by death and death is not an obstacle on the way of life and birth: “And the die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.” Moreover, “Song of Myself” is a proof of Walt’s words, because he is alive in his book, in his “I”.

From Walt’s poem we have been introduced not only to American life but also to Walt Whitman himself. Through the Walt’s feelings, emotions and parts of his life in America we get to know him as a sensitive person. We read his thoughts on a paper and get to know what type of person he was. . I found a reflection of my thought in his writing, and even I had the sense that I know him or already knew. And I understood his temper, character, personality and wishes. Who is it, Mr. Whitman? He is a very kind and fair person, who wants to stats the equality in the world. He did not do crimes and bad things. We get to know him as a good person who worked hard, wrote poems and wanted to achieve equity, fairness and truth in the poem. He “dances, laughs, sings”, loves this world and enjoys it every single day.  He is a happy person. All his writing represenst his aspiration for living and teach us to enjoy every day and appreciate life.

He has freedom of speaking in his writing and the words create the real song about him. Walt does not seem to be afraid of people’s opinion and discussions, their anger and complaints. He is a white man does not afraid to write about his compassion to the black slaves. He is a freely open person for us and people who were around him that time. He loves everybody and everything. Walt is ready to sacrifices all he has for us, and even himself:

“Adorning myself to bestow myself on the first that will take me,…

No asking the sky to come down to my good will,

Scattering if freely forever.”

For me everything is obvious, Walt Whitman is an open book that we have to read, read and read again. Then more you read then more you will find answers on the question: “Who am I?” We all are part of the big Universe, equal in front of death and life, and have our own path here to find ourselves as Walt did in his poem. Ask yourself: What do you think is “I”? What is “I”?

Who are You? What are You?

Don’t you think it is an everlasting question as well as Walt Whitman’s words and thoughts?…

Answering on them every one of you will find own answer like it did Walt Whitman. And You will know the song of Yourself.

Anna Kapitsa

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• February 2013

Walt Whitman

Book iii: song of myself (1– 36).

#1855 #AmericanWriters #LeavesOfGrass

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