Song of Myself - Walt Whitman - Essay Example

Also, this poem focuses on the importance of diversity and the individualism of people from different backgrounds. This poem has also been regarded as a controversial or in other words a rather repulsive one for the erotic and the sexual perspectives discussed in the poem. In general the poem discusses the American Dream which encapsulates people from diverse and distinct backgrounds by virtue of one border surrounding all of them and keeping them united under one American Flag. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself,  And what I assume you shall assume,  For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 1:1) Quoted above is the beginning of the poem, where the most apparent symbol which can clearly be identified is the use of “I” and “Myself” which have been used conveniently and impactfully throughout the poem.

The use of symbols and imagery within the poem adds value rather meanings to the poem, creating an ever impacting affect on the audience which the poem leaves behind. Since the symbols of these poems are interrelated and inter-connected, these need to be discussed simultaneously. Whitman uses the phrase, “what is the grass?” in the sixth section which opens up another idea relating the self to the idea of nature, and these ideas have been repeated expressed through the poem by utilizing symbols like “houses and rooms”, “atmosphere” and “perfumes”.

Grass in itself beautifully and impactfully symbolizes the entire cycle of life and death, reproduction, various elements of American ideals of democracy. Since grass is one such element which is found all over America regardless of the locale, it implies how the American Dream and its ideals are somehow rooted inside all individuals alike. However, since the grass completes its cycle and eventually dies, so does democracy and its elements, thus Whitman tries to predict in this context that at a point America will reach its saturation point which will mark the death of democracy and the induction of the corrupt ideals of democracy will replace the true ideals which will undertake the forms of brutality and bloodshed as predicted by Whitman.

Also, since the grass is also symbolic for eternity as it keeps growing in different forms, it also implies the relationship of humans with the Divine being which he suggests is also a reality which can`t be ignored. In this context, Whitman uses “I” not just for himself as an individual, rather the entire humanity or the entire American nation which he categorizes as a combination of various individuals all of whom have a distinct identity of their own. Moreover the use of houses and rooms represent the entire community while the perfumes signify the individuals as separate entity, while the atmosphere on the other hand symbolizes the universality of human behaviors.

Thus, the individuals are the ones who make up the civilizations in general; however, the experiences and the effect of external factors on individuals which make up the human race in general and characterize them in the form of individuals as all humans take up these experiences in different perspectives of life. Thus, conclusively, if the symbols wouldn’t have been used so conveniently throughout the Whitman`s poem, the meanings would have been different and less impactful. Also, since all individuals