The Symbolism In Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself
Whitman’s purpose in writing “Song of Myself” was to bring Americans together and end many hostilities by spreading the idea that even with all their differences, they’re all human and must embrace each other as equals. In pre-Civil War America, a time when the country was tearing itself in two because of their differences, this message was needed more than ever. Though to what degree of success Whitman actually had on the state of the nation at the time is arguable, the message in the poem, specifically section 22, is clear. His use of symbolism and paradox in this section are used to convey to the reader his message of peace and indifference he wished to be spread throughout the country. The symbolism he uses in this section emphasizes the
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He is saying he is a good poet, yet a wicked one as well. How is this possible? The point he’s trying to make is that he is both, as well as every other citizen in America. Everyone is both evil and good, and both of them are acceptable. This was especially applicable for the time period in which he wrote Leaves of Grass, which was pre-Civil War. Each person had to choose a side to be on during the war, and the other side automatically became evil to them. However, Whitman is saying with this quote that it doesn’t have to be that way. Each person is both good and evil, and not one person is definitely right no more than any other person is definitely wrong. And since there is no one right side or person, the need for war is gone because there’s no right idea to prove. In addition, he says “Evil propels me and reform of evil propels me, I stand/indifferent,” (22-23). The evil and the reform of evil are the two opposite sides of the war, and Whitman is being pressure from both sides to join that specific side. He is telling the reader, however, that he is not letting either side sway his own opinions or judgement. He stands unchanged and indifferent in his opinions because neither side can really call themselves the right side, as Whitman stated earlier in his
He is saying he is a good poet, yet a wicked one as well. How is this possible? The point he’s trying to make is that he is both, as well as every other citizen in America. Everyone is both evil and good, and both of them are acceptable. This was especially applicable for the time period in which he wrote Leaves of Grass, which was pre-Civil War. Each person had to choose a side to be on during the war, and the other side automatically became evil to them. However, Whitman is saying with this quote that it doesn’t have to be that way. Each person is both good and evil, and not one person is definitely right no more than any other person is definitely wrong. And since there is no one right side or person, the need for war is gone because there’s no right idea to prove. In addition, he says “Evil propels me and reform of evil propels me, I stand/indifferent,” (22-23). The evil and the reform of evil are the two opposite sides of the war, and Whitman is being pressure from both sides to join that specific side. He is telling the reader, however, that he is not letting either side sway his own opinions or judgement. He stands unchanged and indifferent in his opinions because neither side can really call themselves the right side, as Whitman stated earlier in his