Whitman in the poem "Song of Myself" incorporates a multitude of different elements and aspects of America in order to create a great American epic. The poem is a combination of a biography, a sermon, and poetic symbols. It is also filled with symbols and commentary to address the important issues of America. The poem also aims to unify all aspects of humanity. In addition, Whitman seems to challenge some of the rules of decency that were common during that time period by using imagery and words that seemed too graphic. Despite the purpose to create this unity, the multitude of various and different topics does not serve to unite the poem properly. 2. Whitman writes in "Song of Myself,” "Do I contradict myself?/ Very well then I contradict
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For instance, Whitman writes about "myself" as an individual human being, but also writes about "myself" as something more universal, a "self" that encompasses the many aspects of the American experience. The poem is about one specific individual's perspective of life, but it's also about the common elements of human experience. It is a poem about the uniqueness of every human being, and it is also a poem about the fact that all of humans are connected to each other. Furthermore, Whitman describes himself as "old and young", "foolish as much as wise", "a child as well as a man"... He wonders why he must adhere to the old ways, but he eventually comes to the conclusion that he is not obliged to explain his own inconsistencies. He is self-contradictory because he embodies all perspectives and all varieties of human experience. He contains multitudes because he is the voice of the entire United …show more content…
Whitman's relationship with the elements of nature is one the poem's major themes; nature, according to Whitman, represents the universe. For instance, a child asks “What is the grass?” and the narrator is forced to explore his own use of symbolism and his inability to break things down to essential principles. The grass becomes a symbol of the regeneration in nature. It also signifies a linking factor between the people of America since it grows everywhere. There is also a comparison between nature and humans. Just like grass arises from the earth, humans also do: "My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air”. He sees some similarities here between flora and human beings. Whitman also describes how the patterns of nature fit together extremely well; a symbol for how humanity, and America, is unified and fits together very
For instance, Whitman writes about "myself" as an individual human being, but also writes about "myself" as something more universal, a "self" that encompasses the many aspects of the American experience. The poem is about one specific individual's perspective of life, but it's also about the common elements of human experience. It is a poem about the uniqueness of every human being, and it is also a poem about the fact that all of humans are connected to each other. Furthermore, Whitman describes himself as "old and young", "foolish as much as wise", "a child as well as a man"... He wonders why he must adhere to the old ways, but he eventually comes to the conclusion that he is not obliged to explain his own inconsistencies. He is self-contradictory because he embodies all perspectives and all varieties of human experience. He contains multitudes because he is the voice of the entire United …show more content…
Whitman's relationship with the elements of nature is one the poem's major themes; nature, according to Whitman, represents the universe. For instance, a child asks “What is the grass?” and the narrator is forced to explore his own use of symbolism and his inability to break things down to essential principles. The grass becomes a symbol of the regeneration in nature. It also signifies a linking factor between the people of America since it grows everywhere. There is also a comparison between nature and humans. Just like grass arises from the earth, humans also do: "My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air”. He sees some similarities here between flora and human beings. Whitman also describes how the patterns of nature fit together extremely well; a symbol for how humanity, and America, is unified and fits together very