Song of Myself : A Democratic Epic

Abstract

Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' is one of the most important poems in the American literature, important for both its use of language and its vision of equality. Throughout the poem , Walt Whitman gives emphasis on equality of all men and women. To him all humans are equal and all professions are equally honorable.(Seery, 2011)). The poem, hence celebrates the theme of democracy and the oneness of mankind, specifically the American people. The purpose of this paper is not to provide a kind of background for Whitman’s poetic principles, but try to discuss his democratic leanings in “Song Of Myself “.Whitman envisioned democracy not just as a political system but as a way of experiencing the world. In the early nineteenth century, people still harbored many doubts about whether the United States could survive as a country and about whether democracy could thrive as a political system. To allay those fears and to praise democracy, Whitman tried to be democratic in both life and poetry. He imagined democracy as a way of interpersonal interaction and as a way for individuals to integrate their beliefs into their everyday lives. “Song of Myself” notes that democracy must include all individuals equally, or else it will fail.