Analysis Of Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

Walt Whitman had first written “Song of Myself” in 1855 but finalized the name of the poem in 1892. The title itself speaks well of the general theme of the poem. Whitman spoke about the individual in different aspects of life; he spoke about knowing yourself, being in the present, and becoming an individual who regards all people and objects around him. The section that resonated with me the most was section 43. In section 43, Whitman discusses his thoughts on religions, and how he personally feels about it. Throughout the poem Whitman uses various literary elements and techniques to get his point across. In section 43, Whitman uses two main elements which include anaphora and catalogue, as well as using a certain tone to portray religion and how death and faith plays a role within it. From the moment section 43 begins, you get the idea that Walt Whitman is what we now consider a deist. Deism is the belief that there is a God or higher being, but does not necessarily believe in religion. From the very first sentence “I do not despise you priests, all time, the world over” (Song of Myself 43) we clearly understand that he opposes the clergy and/or priest. The clergy represent organized religion to Walt Whitman. They tend to believe that what they follow is the right way and that what they are …show more content…
It is used to emphasize that no one can fail. His faith allows him to understand that death is here and it affects everyone from woman to child.Whitman fully acknowledges that he does not understand what happens after death, but he does understand that it does happen at some point and that we should embrace it. The present includes both the past and the future, every thing that we’ve done or experienced someone else has. This is also how we have the least of faiths, because it simply allows us to be. Whitman uses a more formal tone with this section because religion is a more formal

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