Individuality in Whitmans Song of Myself Essay - 1260 Words

Individuality in Whitmans Song of Myself During a lecture in 1907, William James said the philosophy which is so important in each of us is not a technical matter; it is our more or less dumb sense of what life honestly means. It is only partly got from books; it is our individual way of just seeing and feeling the total push and pressure of the cosmos (Bartlett 546) Individuality has been a prevalent theme in every type of literature for quite some time. Whether it is a character discovering his/her individuality or the author expressing his, literature is full of distinctness. The term individuality changes meaning with each person it meets. That is what makes the dynamic word so great. Throughout particular works read this†¦show more content†¦He demonstrates being non-judgmental, which is something people of his time do not understand, let alone today in present time. He goes on later to say I resist anything better than my own diversity, and breathe the air and leave plenty after me, and am not stuck up, and am in my place (2756). Whitman feels that he has explored the world and the options around him and now has found his place. He knows his inner self and it has guided him to the place he needs to be. Whitmans ideas of individuality have totally transformed from the ideas of his predecessors. Benjamin Franklins idea of being an individual consisted of hard labor, good-standing character, and faith in God. Franklin was a hard worker who had toiled and labored since the day he was born. His happiness was assured in the apprentice ships that he held early in life. Franklin deemed success in work just as highly as good character. In his autobiography he states, I began now gradually to pay off the Debt I was under for the printing house. In order to secure my credit and my character as a tradesman (Franklin 803). The reader understands how important this is to Franklin as well as how important it is today to people. God was always a steadfast character in Franklins life. In Poor Richards Almanacs one of Franklins maxims was God helps them that helps themselves (723). This maxim epitomizes Franklins ideas onShow MoreRelatedIndividuality And Free Verse in Walt Whitmans S ong of Myself1524 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican dream has not always been consistent, (married with 2.5 kids, 2 cars, a dog and a satisfying job), the spirit of innovation, individuality and progress remains unchanged. The father of free verse, and perhaps the American perspective of poetry, Walt Whitman embodies these values in his life and work. First published in 1855 in Leaves of Grass, Song of Myself is a vision of a symbolic I enraptured by the senses, vicariously embracing all people and places from the Atlantic to the PacificRead MoreAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself1178 Words   |  5 Pagesspoke as one man for the multitude in his poem, â€Å"Song of Myself†, which openly demonstrates Whitman’s faith in the imperative indivisibility of self-reliance. He shares many of the same ideas as Emerson, such as the importance of the self and views on religion. There are some differences in certain ideas, images and the language; however, these differences do not take away from Whitman’s fulfillment of Emerson’s vision of the self. Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† shows the ideals of self in Ralph Waldo EmersonRead More walt whitman Essay1383 Words   |  6 Pages†Everything on earth has the divine spark within and thus is all part of a whole.†(web.pg2trans.) 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The UnitedRead MoreAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself Essay2414 Words   |  10 Pages The prevalence of Hegelianism in Walt Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† is indisputable, yet a consensus on the meaning remains elusive, and therefore, insidious to the democratic progress Whitman attempts. Whitman uses Hegel to support his ideas about the dialectical theory of consciousness, the spiritualization and importance of art, and America’s manifest destiny. I later elucidate on these categories and break them down into more precise ideas. I use a variety of scholars for evidence of structuralRead MoreWalt Whitman s Song Of Myself1191 Words   |  5 Pages Walt Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† Walt Whitman was an American poet born in May 31, 1819 in New York, and he died in March 26, 1892 in New Jersey. He grew up going to school in separate facilities from people of color, so he was growing up along with the nation. He was self-taught by exploring things for himself, for example, going to the museums when he could. Whitman as a young boy alternated from being in the city to being in the countryside with his grandparents. He was exposed to be beingRead MoreAmerican Romanticism As Portrayed By Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself979 Words   |  4 PagesModern Civ-LIT 3/21/16 Song of myself (1855) Narrative (1845) American Romanticism as portrayed by Walt Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† and Fredrick Douglass’s Narrative American Romanticism focuses on the imagination, emotions and idealized perspectives of the world. Romanticism is in opposition to the forms and conventions of Neoclassical Literature and is a reaction to the Age of reason which preceded Romanticism. Reason was ruled out in this era in place of imagination, individuality, and emotions, whichRead MoreWalt Whitman And Allen Ginsbergs Poetry1332 Words   |  6 Pagessimilarities, from even such a young age, it enticed Allen Ginsberg to apprise Walt Whitman, to read what he had to say and how he managed his own disheveled his life. The younger years are the most influential, there is no doubt that Ginsberg stored Whitman’s messages in his heart and kept the morals throughout his life. Proof of this lies in Ginsberg s alteration of religious views. â€Å"Kaddish† in Judaism is meant as a mourning prayer, a title meant as reflection of Ginsberg’s mothers mental problemsRead MoreWalt Whitman Poem Analysis978 Words   |  4 Pagesof life to a maze, and how everyones path to the end of the maze is different, because they are all unique. This touched basis with the attitude of the poem, which was on the optimistic side, but it was promoting individuality. It can be difficult for teenagers to find their individuality in this day in age, because many people do not find out who they are until after high school. That could be due to a variety of reasons, take for instance maturing as a person, because a freshman mindset is differentRead MoreA Human Acting Under The Laws Of Society Essay1659 Words   |  7 Pagesworth. Unlike the rigid bounds of society that emphasize order and conformity, nature harbors personal spirit and freedom of expression, allowing one to truly embrace their own thoughts and beliefs and cement their own individuality. Throughout the Scarlet Letter and Song of Myself, Hawthorne and Whitman juxtapose the beauty of nature with the rigidity of society through the expression of indi vidualistic tendencies; to suggest that nature nurtures an individual’s sense of identity and ultimately leads