Analysis Of Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself Essay - 2414 Words

The prevalence of Hegelianism in Walt Whitman’s â€Å"Song of Myself† is indisputable, yet a consensus on the meaning remains elusive, and therefore, insidious to the democratic progress Whitman attempts. Whitman uses Hegel to support his ideas about the dialectical theory of consciousness, the spiritualization and importance of art, and America’s manifest destiny. I later elucidate on these categories and break them down into more precise ideas. I use a variety of scholars for evidence of structural, social, artistic, and spiritual relations in Whitman s â€Å"Song of Myself† and Hegel’s The Phenomenology of Spirit; however, instead of celebrating these achievements, I will focus on the risk of using Hegel as a way to interpret Whitman. I point out the reasons for both Whitman and Hegel failing to grasp any actual use on their thoughts on consciousness. Then I proceed to explain why it is better to focus on Whitman’s view on art without usin g Hegel. Lastly, I showcase the dangers of Whitman using Hegel’s ideas for democratic means. The foremost idea that fails logical scrutiny is the dialectical theory of consciousness. Hegel states â€Å"†¦Belief in the nothingness of necessity and in the underworld becomes belief in Heaven because the departed self must unite with its universality, must explicate in this universality what it contains and thus become clear to itself.† (411). Hegel later expresses his ideas about the how the spirit is conscious of itself in the conscious form (416),Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s Song Of Myself1178 Words   |  5 Pagesa Poem Using the Same Ideas from Another Person The idea that the artist is a single individual coming to stand and speak for the masses is one of Emerson’s main transcendentalist ideas. Walt Whitman met Emerson’s ideal artist description as he spoke as one man for the multitude in his poem, â€Å"Song of Myself†, which openly demonstrates Whitman’s faith in the imperative indivisibility of self-reliance. He shares many of the same ideas as Emerson, such as the importance of the self and views on religionRead MoreDeath Is Death And The Idea Of Death1290 Words   |  6 Pagespoem â€Å"Annabel Lee†, the narrator sleeps by the graveside (Poe s Poetry suggested question ). In Poe’s poem â€Å"The Raven†, Death is a final dreadful sentence for mankind and dooms the human race. Some of Poe’s characters in his poems feel that death isn’t the final event in life. In â€Å"Lenore† the male character believes that he will see her in heaven, so, the male character doesn ’t cry out to her in her death (Poe s Poetry summary and analysis). The male character also accuses others for her death statingRead More The Democratic Value of Whitmans Leaves of Grass Essay3334 Words   |  14 PagesEarly reviews of Walt Whitmans Leaves of Grass evince an incipient awareness of the unifying and acutely democratic aspects of the poetry. An article in the November 13th, 1856, issue of the New York Daily Times describes the modest, self-published book of twelve seemingly formless poems: As we read it again and again, and we will confess that we have returned to it often, a singular order seems to arise out of its chaotic verses (2). The Daily Timess identification of order out of chaosRead More Whitman and Neruda as Grassroots Poets Essays1812 Words   |  8 PagesWhitman and Neruda as Grassroots Poets â€Å"The familial bond between the two poets [Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda] points not only to a much-needed reckoning of the affinity between the two hemispheres, but to a deeper need to establish a basis for an American identity: ‘roots,’ as Neruda referred to his fundamental link with Whitman† (Nolan 33). Both Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda have been referred to as poets of the people, although it is argued that Neruda with his city and country houseRead MoreTranscendentalism : The And The Movement1027 Words   |  5 Pagesthe 1820s, and 1830s. List 5 major authors associated with the movement Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Explain what Transcendentalist believed about each of the following topics: Human Nature They were to live independently, all you need is your mind, knowledge is born with. They also believed that an institution isn t necessary, and it s better to live independently. Truth A system of thought based, on a belief of the essential unity of all creationRead MoreWalts Whitmans Vision of America in Leaves of Grass17685 Words   |  71 PagesWalt Whitman’s vision of America in Leaves of Grass Valentine†©Abbet†© TRAVAIL†©DE†©MATURITE†© †© Sous†©la†©direction†©d’Anne†©Roland†Wurzburger†© Gymnase†©du†©Bugnon,†©Lausanne†© 2012†©  «I have sung the body and the soul, war and peace have I sung, and the songs of life and death, And the songs of birth, and shown that there are many births. I have offerd my style to every one, I have journeyd with confident step; While my pleasure is yet at the full I whisper So long! » Walt Whitman, So Long !, Deathbed editionRead MoreVincent Willem Van Gogh And His Life2164 Words   |  9 Pagesexactly what I see before me, I make more arbitrary use of color to express myself more forcefully.(Art Institute of Chicago 118) His work conveyed a feeling of movement. He worked with urgency contributing to his stressful state of mind. A Post-Impressionist painter, Vincent Willem van Gogh (Dutch, 1853 – 1890) possessed a unique style composed of brush strokes that were bold, dramatic and emotionally expressive. The analysis of â€Å"The Starry Night† (1889, oil) reveals a subject matter that is openRead MoreWhat It Means For The American Identity2100 Words   |  9 Pagesthe American Identity. Families could choose to practice a religion, go to a school of their preference, and be treated fairly. Every July 4th, individuals celebrate this great country, America, and their involvement in the American Identity. The analysis of the American Identity is port rayed through four fundamental principles that support the right to â€Å"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness†, those being religion, education, equality, and freedom. In religion, with the core values of beliefRead MoreWar During The Twentieth Century War Poetry Essay2187 Words   |  9 Pagescolor. The time of year, autumn, brings forth emotions of warmth and coziness. However, it also evokes emotions of gloominess and sadness especially as Lowell’s poem continues. She writes, â€Å"For I have time for nothing / But the endeavour to balance myself / Upon a broken world.† These three lines bring forth those emotions of gloominess and sorrow. She is going to try her and attempt to balance herself upon a broken world. The words, falling, tumbling, and dropped are all words that could perhaps beRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†