Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” evokes an extremely personal and intimate view of the speaker. Whitman spends almost the entirety of the poem developing and characterizing his personality. He describes and characterizes his persona through the beauty of poetic language. Walt Whitman describes the dimensions of his personality that he feels are present in all beings to an extent. These dimensions include the physical earthly dimensions of his life as well as the spiritual and poignant aspects of his soul.
Before the poem even begins, the reader can clearly see from the title that the speaker himself will be the main focus of the poem. In the first section the speaker invites the reader to join him on his exploration of self and soul. He claims that all beings are alike in many ways through the line “For every atom belonging to me as good as belongs to you…”
In the 4th Section, Whitman describes the aspects that make up his physical being. These include “…the latest dates, discoveries, looks, compliments, dues…battles, horrors of fratricidal war…” Whitman continues by saying that even though these happenings fill his days and nights they do not make up his spiritual being which he coins the “me myself.” In Section 16 he explains that he doesn’t identify himself with any occupation or region. In Section 21 Whitman asserts that his poetry is intended to reach the souls of his readers and encourage them to explore the dimensions of their true self. In Section 24 Whitman identifies himself as the speaker and further describes the “me myself” facets of his personality. In Line 8-9 of this section Whitman shares that he is a man inspired by the communications of knowledge. He is a man that passionately believes in the principles of democracy and condemns any degrading behavior that does not promote equality. He longs to be carefree like wild animals. He admires their ‘self-contained’ ways and how they do not complain or whine and weep for their sins.
In section 46 Whitman encourages every man to take his own unique journey to discover the dimensions of his or her true self. He asserts that no one can conduct their journey for him, rather each must learn as they ‘hasten forth’ on their own. In Section 51 Whitman explains that even though his past and present have helped to form the person that he is today they do not define him. He is defined by the prospects of his future.
