The song of myself in entirety is enormous in terms of complexity and structure. My video focuses on section 20 of the poem. The reader reads this poem with a suspicious tone full of inquiry. This small section of the larger poem embodies a sense of uniqueness. Non conformity, and life after death are the main focus of this section.
The first aspect is the title of the poem. The word ‘song’ in this poem is an important part of this poem. Song is implied as a collection of words that you hear. A song is meant to be sung by one but heard my many. To understand this poem it is implied that it must be heard.
The major theme of non conforming is one that is stressed even through this day. The sense that is shown, or willing to be shown is to be your true and ‘unique-self’. Whitman says that he will wear his hat the way he wants both inside and outside—as his own self. He is willing to go as far as to except both the good and bad of his world. His use of self-appraisal is quite evident in section 20 and furthermore reinforces the theme of non conforming.
The second major theme in this section is one of death. The book it self has a unique name. Leaves can’t be physically attached to grass, yet can be next to, on top of, and decompose to be under the grass. This ‘death’ of the leaves as in the title can be related to Whitmans view on death. He is satisfied on the way he lives. He waits patiently and enjoys his world, otherwise known as his life. In the end he believes that the world is built so well that he isn’t actually concerned with death and what happens after death.
