Walt Whitman's Idea Of The American Dream Essay

Walt Whitman’s idea of the American Dream cannot be summarized into one sentence. It in its entirety is more complicated than that. Although complicated, Whitman’s American Dream still exists in today’s society. Whitman views the American Dream as a call to arms, a mandatory action that Americans must take. He tells us, “For we cannot tarry here, We must march my darlings…all the rest on us depend.” (4-6). He is telling us in order to achieve progression as a nation, we must venture forward, or in this case, westward. Whitman calls us to pick up where our forefathers, the pilgrims, left off. “Have the elder races halted? Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied, over there beyond the seas? We take up the task eternal, and the burden, and…

Whitman and Hughes Comparison Essay The two poems we have studied and analyzed, Walt Whitman’s “I hear America Singing” and Langston Hughes’ “Let America be America Again”, each have very different central meanings. Both poems show the authors’ outlooks on America, Whitman’s being positive, and Hughes’ being negative. The tone and diction that each of these very successful authors choose to use in their writing come together to create the central message and the mood of the poems,…

In the essay “Self-Reliance” written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, wants to encourage everyone to be happy as you are. Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “This sculpture in the memory is not without pre-established harmony”(77). To me this quote means that you are beautiful as you are, also be happy as you are. Emerson’s statement is incorporated into my definition of the American Dream because it practically says be happy with how you are. According to Emerson, you should do what you love and do what makes…

Walt Whitman is arguably one of the most influential Romantic writers to this day. He incorporated many Romantic principles and characteristics into each of his works. His flawless use of the Romantic ideals of atmosphere, optimism, and sentiment combined with his own personal beliefs and morals truly brought his poems to life. Readers, even today, finish his works feeling inspired to go out and find tranquility within nature, which can be considered one of the main goals of the Romantic…

Song of Myself “Song of Myself”, which is famous for “representing the core of Whitmans poetic vision” (Greenspan) was written in 1881 by Walt Whitman. This poem is baffling to many people because of both the symbolism and wordplay. Walt Whitman begins by introducing the subject in the poem, which is himself and he goes on by celebrating this theme. Whitman utilizes words such “I”, “myself” and his inner soul to generate a feel of being and depiction in specific sects of the poem. Whilst it…

In the poem “I Hear America Singing,” Walt Whitman, in his traditional patriotic style, tells a story about America during the nineteenth century. At first glance, the poem seems simplistic—incongruous with the complex works of other poets of the day such as Emily Dickinson. Although the poem does not have a specific rhyming scheme or require a large amount of imagination, it still communicates a powerful story to its readers. The message that Whitman delivers in eleven short lines is one that…

“For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning”, this would be shocking to Whitman, because the amount of voices praising Whitman’s works has grown exponentially since his death. Walt Whitman’s works have gone on an intriguing journey from the time that they were first published to the current era. However, as time has passed Whitman has become to be known as a celebrated and innovative poet. Whitman versatility is seen by the thoughts of death, desolation of hearts, and…

“I Too Sing America” and “Still, I Rise” have more in common than one might think. Both poems address the fight for equality and aim to inspire people to take action. However, each poem carries a different tone: while one is ambitious, the other is triumphant. The message in “I Too Sing America” is very direct and easily identifiable, unlike “Still, I Rise” which could be considered to have a double meaning. Langston Hughes wrote “I Too Sing America” as a response to Walt Whitman’s “I Hear…

ability tp bring people together has been hailed as one of its crowning achievements. Proud patriots of the country would boast that America is a place where everyone can achieve their “American Dream” and find the life that everyone(supposedly) seeks. While this idea sounds nice in theory, in practice, things are not always as they seem. Certain authors, like Whitman, celebrate the United States of America for its diversity and for the vibrant culture where he believes that all can be…

In every American household there is the ultimate goal to achieve the “American Dream”. And every household holds a different version of the “American Dream”. But what is the proper version of the “American Dream”? How can we achieve it? Who has access to it? For the majority of people, myself included, one would argue that the “American Dream” is to utilize the system of capitalism, to achieve financial success, materialistic belongings, have a family and to be healthy and stable when retired.…