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Critical Analysis Of Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

Decent Essays

Walt Whitman’s exciting language and style reflect and further the opinions he voices in “Leaves of Grass”. In one of his poems, “Song of Myself”, Whitman, through his use of symbolism and free verse, points out his views on democracy. He was surrounded by those who established a fine line between what was deemed right and wrong, there being no in-between. The ideas that were not whole, or right or wrong, were widely rejected. He chose risky subjects to discuss and used risky language, which was not normal for his time. His work was viewed as dirty and shameful. Unlike his colleagues, Whitman embraced and invited all of humanity to see the beauty of everything. He had radical ideas about America, nature, spirituality, sexuality, identity, and democracy which made him unique. During the first lines of this poem, he encourages us to see what he sees and how he sees it. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, / And what I assume you shall assume, /For every atom belonging to be as good belongs to you” (26), Whitman introduces this idea of individuality and wholeness. He believes the self is something to be celebrated, not hindered because of society or anything else for that matter. He freely wrote about topics that may seem disgraceful to others such as the body and sexuality. Whitman appears to understand himself and is aware of the desires he possesses, not sublimating them for the desires of others. Whitman speaks bluntly about how he feels towards grass. By using

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