Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

Betsy Erkkila questions the public and private ideas of Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself” and the way they challenge boundaries. Walt Whitman was the first to address to his readers, their own personal fears within the idea of a democracy. At the time his vision of society was new and almost unaccepted by the people of the 19th century. However by examining his unconventional democratic, sexual and religious tolerance ideas in his poem “Song Of Myself” Walt Whitman gained the approval of his readers. “Whitman envisioned democracy not just as a political system but as a way of experiencing the world.”(Whitman’s Poetry) Many people in the 19th century still had doubts about democracy and whether or not America could survive with it as

He promoted sexual tolerance in hopes that the exposure would decrease ignorance about the subject at the time. Whitman frequently sexualized individuals and nature showing how sexuality is present in our daily lives. “His blue shirt exposes his ample neck and breast and loosens over his hipband...The sun falls on his crispy hair and moustache...falls on the black of his polish’d and perfect limbs.” (Whitman 30 ) Whitman talks about his own sexuality and explains that his soul is joining with his body in a sexual way. “I mind how we lay in June, such a transparent summer morning; You settled your head athwart my hips and gently turned over upon me, And parted the shirt from my bosom-bone, and plunged your tongue to my barestript heart, And reached till you felt my beard, and reached till you held my feet.” (Whitman, 24) He is basically talking about his soul and his body coming together and having this

Whitman seems to follow his own religion, taking the beliefs of many different faiths with himself as the focus. He is accepting of everyone, even people who aren’t accepted in society or people who are unreligious. “The prostitute draggles her shawl, her bonnet bobs on her tipsy and pimpled neck, The crowd laugh at her blackguard oaths, the men jeer and wink to each other (Miserable! I do not laugh at your oaths not jeer you.)” (Whitman, 33) He challenges the idea that knowledge of the universe should be received by religious authorities and the notions of heaven and hell. He believes in life, growth, reproduction, and living in the present moment. “I have heard what the talkers were talking... the talk of the beginning and the end, But I do not talk of the beginning or the end. There was never any more inception than there is now, Nor any more youth or age than there is now; And will never be any more perfection than there is now, Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.”(Whitman, 22) “Whitman brings philosophical significance to the most simple objects and actions, reminding America that every sight, sound, taste, and smell can take on spiritual importance to the fully aware and healthy individual.” (Lombardi) Whitman ties religion in with the fact that he does not think people should feel sexual shame or guilt and that sex should be looked at as natural for healthy sexuality.