Whitman highlights the significance of each individual varied souls from all walks of life and their collective importance, “tend inward to me, and I tend outward to them…And of these one and all I weave the song of myself.” Besides this line providing the entire collections name (what does that mean), this rather brief statement buried under a mountain of personal experiences is essential to understanding the message of individuality. After encouraging his readers to have ultimate faith in their own souls and reach into the euphoric atmosphere of their individual passions, Whitman doubles back to emphasize the importance of connectedness to your fellow man. Just as individually, all of the people and stories listed earlier in this poem end …show more content…
Similar to section fifteen, Whitman catalogues many people and the events which make up their lives. However, in this section, the idea of an American is truly embellished as people from sixteen separate United States regions are mentioned. In this section specifically the concept of self is tied into national identity especially with the claim that Whitman is “one of the Nation of many nations, the smallest the same and the largest the same.” While this statement could refer to the individual states which make up the American nation, it is more in tune with Whitman’s message to assume that the smallest nation refers to an individual. Again, in light of the divisive circumstances under which Song of Myself was published Whitman’s plea for an united nation becomes more obvious, and is still relevant today. American democracy was founded on a belief that people of different beliefs, cultures of ways of life could eventually come together and form a cohesive nation. Such a belief remains partially theoretical even today, yet Whitman’s powerful language which strives to push individuals in that direction remains valuable and potent regardless of the time