Discussing Whitman's Song of Mysel. Find notes here: https://www.classwithmason.com/2025/01/detailed-analysis-of-song-of-myself-by.html
All right, let's dive in. Today we're taking a deep dive into Walt Whitman's Song of Myself.
Ooh, exciting.
Specifically, we're looking at the 1892 version.
Okay, so not the first edition. Got it.
right and i know i know poetry can sometimes feel like ugh homework totally but trust me on this one song of myself is not your typical poem it's not all flowery sonnets and rhyming couplets this is free verse folks and it's epic we're talking about a journey that explores everything from self-identity to america to the entire universe also like big ideas Huge.
And what makes this deep dive even more interesting is the time period it was written in. It's the late 19th century. And America's going through some massive changes. Think industrialization booming. The Civil War just ended.
So much upheaval.
Exactly. And Whitman, with his revolutionary free verse style, he's like a mirror reflecting all that change and disruption. He's totally breaking all these old poetic norms, just like the nation itself is redefining its identity.
I love that analogy. He's kind of like a rebel poet shaking things up.
Totally. Like he's saying, forget the old rules. We're doing things differently now. And he really kicks things off with these bold lines. I celebrate myself and sing myself. Now, before you think he's just being like egotistical, remember, he's actually inviting us, the readers, and now you, the listener, to come along on this journey of self-discovery with him.
It's an invitation to explore what it means to be human in all its messy glory.
I like that. Messy glory. And that exploration takes us straight to one of Whitman's core ideas, this radical notion of interconnectedness. He sees himself reflected in literally everything. Nature, people, even the tiniest little creatures.
It's like he sees this blurring of boundaries, this merging of the self with the world around him.
So he's not just talking about feeling connected in a spiritual sense. He's actually claiming to be made of the same stuff as the earth, as everyone else, like literally.
Exactly. He actually says, I find I incorporate nice coal, long threaded moss, fruits, grains. He's not using fancy metaphors here. He's listing these very specific earthy materials to drive home this powerful point.
Wow. Imagine what people back then thought when they read that.
Right. This was totally radical for the time. Yeah. And it makes you think, where do you draw the line between yourself and everything else?
Whoa, that's a deep question. It really makes you look at the world differently, you know. And it's not just about the physical world either, right? He sees that same spark of life, that same wonder in every living being, like he says about the mouse.
Oh, you mean the line, a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels? Yes.
That's the one.
Yeah, that line just elevates something so small and ordinary to the level of the cosmos. He's saying even the tiniest things are full of value and beauty. It's like this call to pay attention, to find the miracle in everyday things.
Instead of just, you know, squashing them. I'm starting to get this picture of Whitman as this like super observer.
Yeah.
But also someone who's not afraid to dive into the less pleasant parts of life. He tackles the body, sexuality, even death topics most people would avoid, especially back then.
Especially back then. The Victorian era was all about social repression, especially around those topics. But Whitman, he's like, nope, I'm going there. He flat out says, I am not the poet of goodness only. I do not decline to be the poet of wickedness also. He's acknowledging the duality within us all, the light and the shadow, and he refuses to sugarcoat it.
So it's not just about feeling connected to everything. It's about accepting everything, even the stuff that makes us squirm.
Exactly. He's really challenging us to look at all parts of ourselves, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
No hiding allowed. It makes me think of that section 28, I think, where he gives this incredibly raw, almost violent depiction of a sexual encounter. It must really push boundaries back then.
Oh, absolutely. I mean, this is the 1800s we're talking about. To write so openly about sexuality was scandalous. But he forces us to confront those parts of ourselves that we might want to deny. What makes you uncomfortable? What parts of yourself do you try to hide? These are the questions Whitman's throwing right at us.
He doesn't let us off easy, does he? It's like he's holding up a mirror and saying, deal with it. But, you know, there's also this sense of freedom in his honesty. This boldness actually ties into another big part of Song of Myself, Whitman's democratic spirit.
Right. He's writing during this time when America is all about equality and opportunity for all.
Exactly. And he sees poetry as a way to give everyone a voice, regardless of background.
He really throws open the doors to this incredibly diverse cast of characters, butchers, runaway slaves, clam diggers. Yet these are not your typical poetic subject.
Not at all. He's intentionally highlighting everyday people, especially those on the margins of society.
And he's showing us the beauty and dignity in their lives.
It's not just that he's writing about them, though. He's clearly empathizing with them. Like that line, the heavy-lipped slave is invited. There shall be no difference between them and the rest. Just jumps out at you, doesn't it?
Oh, yeah. Such a powerful statement of inclusivity.
It really makes you think about America today. Are we living up to that ideal of no difference between people?
It's a question that feels surprisingly relevant, even though he wrote it over a century ago.
It really does. It's like this poem is still speaking to us across time. And Whitman doesn't just move through social classes. He takes us on these incredible journeys through time and space, too. His imagery is so vivid, it's like he's teleporting us into these scenes.
He was a master at using language to create this full sensory experience. It's not just what you see. You hear the sounds, smell the smells, feel the textures. It's amazing.
Oh, it totally is. Like that line where he's talking about sailing across the ocean. My ties and ballasts leave me. My elbows rest in sea gaps. I skirt Sierras. My palms cover continents.
I love that one.
It's so grand and sweeping. You can almost feel the wind in your hair.
And remember, this is all written in free verse, which was totally revolutionary for its time. Think about traditional poetry, all about structure, rhymes, and following the rules.
Right. Super strict.
Yeah, exactly. But Whitman just tosses all that out. He's breaking free from those constraints, just like he wants us to break free from the limitations we put on ourselves.
Ah, that's why it feels so different. So much more. Unbound.
Hmm.
Speaking of Unbound, it's interesting how he also doesn't shy away from these like harsher realities of life.
Yeah.
He takes us into battlefields, confronts us with violence, suffering. You know, it's not all sunshine and roses.
Right. It's not. He's giving us the whole picture, the beautiful and the ugly, the joyous and the painful.
He's not trying to shield us from the darkness. It makes me wonder, was that shocking for people back then, this kind of unflinching honesty in poetry?
Oh, definitely. This was a time when poetry was much more focused on beauty, nature, and kind of idealized versions of life. But then Whitman comes along and says, nope, we're looking at it all.
He was a radical, wasn't he?
He was. He was challenging norms on every level. But there's also this undeniable beauty in his writing. It's raw, it's honest, but it's also incredibly poetic.
It really is. He had this incredible talent for finding beauty in everyday things, even in the midst of suffering. And he could make you see the world in a whole new way. You know, appreciate things you might have just overlooked before.
Definitely. He was more than just a poet. He was a visionary. He saw the world differently and he wanted to share that vision with everyone.
And he did it in a way that feels both personal and universal at the same time. It's like he's speaking directly to you, sharing these really intimate experiences. But he's also tapping into these larger truths about what it means to be human.
That's such a good point. And it's one of the things that makes Song of Myself so timeless. It speaks to people across generations and cultures because it deals with these themes of self-discovery, connection, and finding meaning in life, things we all struggle with.
Absolutely. It's definitely a lot to unpack, but honestly, I'm feeling pretty inspired right now. It's like Whitman is giving us permission to just be ourselves, to embrace it all, and to find our own song in the midst of this crazy, beautiful world.
That's a beautiful way to put it. And I think that's a great place to pause for a moment. We've covered a lot of ground, but there's still so much more to explore in Song of Myself.
So much more. I can't wait to dive back in. We'll be right back to continue our exploration of Walt Whitman's masterpiece. All right, we're back and ready to keep going with our deep dive into Song of Myself. Before the break, we were talking about how Whitman celebrates, you know, every aspect of life, even the stuff that makes people kind of uncomfortable.
Yeah. And maybe the most radical example of that is like his treatment of the human body. This is where he really breaks away from the norms of his time. I mean, he celebrates the physical self in a way that was unheard of in the 19th century.
It's like he's shouting, this body is mine and it's beautiful. And he's not just talking about the parts that society thinks are attractive, right? He celebrates every inch of it.
Exactly. Don't forget, this is the Victorian era. It was all about being proper. And there was so much repression, especially when it came to sexuality. But Whitman just tosses all those social rules right out the window. He says, welcome is every organ and attribute of me and of any man hardy and clean. Not an inch nor a particle of an inch is vile.
It's like he's reclaiming the body, declaring that it's inherently good, worthy of celebration.
And it's interesting how he uses such straightforward language to is not flowery or abstract or anything. He's very direct and specific about the body.
Totally. He's doing that on purpose. You know, he wants to get rid of all the shame and secrecy that surrounded the body back then. He's saying, let's just talk about this. Let's acknowledge our physical selves. And he goes even further than just acceptance. He actually elevates the body to this almost sacred level. He even writes this head more than churches, Bibles, and all the creeds.
Wow, that's pretty bold, especially for that time period. He's placing the physical self above religious doctrine. It's like he's saying the body itself is a temple.
Right. More sacred than any church. And it's not just about the individual either. It's about this like shared humanity we all have. He sees this embrace of the body as a way of connecting with other people, of experiencing life to the fullest. It's about breaking down all these barriers of shame and judgment and celebrating what unites us.
It makes you wonder what people's reactions were back then. This had to be pretty revolutionary stuff.
Oh, for sure. It caused quite a stir. I mean, some people were totally scandalized, obviously, but others were drawn to his honesty, his willingness to talk about the things that were considered taboo.
Yeah. And it wasn't just about shocking people. He had a deeper point, right? Like in section 21, where he talks about both the pleasures of heaven and the pains of hell existing inside him. It's like he's saying that to truly know yourself, you have to acknowledge all of it, the good and the bad.
That's a great point. It speaks to Whitman's embrace of duality. He's not interested in like separating or denying any part of himself. He's aiming for this like wholeness, a completeness that includes it all.
So he's not saying go wild and do whatever you want. It's more about self-acceptance on this deeper level.
Exactly. And he's challenging us to do the same, you know, to confront those parts of ourselves we might try to hide, to embrace our full humanity, even the messy parts.
all the complexities and contradictions. He doesn't make it easy. And he does it all in this incredibly powerful language that just draws you in. There's one section that really captures this bold approach to the body. Section 28.
Section 28. Oh, yeah, that's a memorable one.
It's incredibly sensual, almost violent in the imagery. He describes this encounter with like such force, such raw passion that it's almost unsettling.
It is. And it's a passage that still causes a lot of debate and different interpretations even today. Some people see it as the celebration of pure desire, while others see it as a depiction of like domination, maybe even assault. What do you think?
It's definitely a complicated passage.
Right. And I think that's part of what makes it so powerful. Whitman isn't giving us these easy answers, you know, or clear interpretations. He's giving us this raw glimpse into the human heart and leaving us to wrestle with it with all its complexities.
It definitely challenges our modern sensibilities. It makes us confront the raw power of physical desire, which was pretty much never talked about openly in Whitman's time.
Yeah, exactly. And I think that's why it's so important. He's challenging us to push past our comfort zones. to engage with the messy reality of being human without judgment. He's not trying to be our moral compass or lay down a set of rules. He's just showing us life as he sees it.
And letting us figure it out for ourselves. It's interesting, though, because even with all this talk about the body, Song of Myself doesn't feel like a sexy poem, you know, in the typical sense. It's more about this deep spiritual connection with yourself and with the universe.
You're right. It's not about titillation. His sensuality is about recognizing the beauty and power of the body as a way to experience the world, a way to connect with something bigger than ourselves.
So the body becomes this bridge between personal experience and universal truth. He takes these big philosophical ideas and grounds them in the physical reality of our existence.
Exactly. It's like this reminder that spirituality isn't separate from our bodies. You know, it's all connected. It's in the way we move, feel, experience the world through our senses.
And that's a powerful message, especially in our world today, where we're often so disconnected from our bodies. We spend so much time in our heads staring at screens that we forget to actually like inhabit our physical selves.
It's so easy to fall into that trap. But Whitman's calling us back, reminding us to embrace our physicality and to find the divine within ourselves.
He's giving us permission to be fully present in our bodies, to experience the world with all our senses. That's a pretty liberating feeling.
It really is. And it can lead to a much deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
You know, we were talking earlier about Whitman being this poet of the people. And I think his whole approach to the body is a great example of that democratic spirit, too. He's taking something that was taboo, something people were ashamed to talk about, and bringing it out in the open.
Right. He's challenging the norms that dictated what was considered acceptable and what wasn't. He's saying all bodies are beautiful, all experiences are valid.
It's a message that feels, I don't know, even more relevant today with our world becoming increasingly fragmented and digital. He's reminding us to reconnect with our bodies, celebrate our differences, and find the beauty in our shared humanity.
And he does it all with such passion and conviction. It's impossible to read Song of Myself and not be moved by his enthusiasm for life, his love for life, and his belief in the power of the individual.
He really makes you want to get out there and experience the world, savor every moment, every sensation.
Yes. He reminds us that life is precious and fleeting and we should make the most of it. But it's not just about like self-indulgence. He's calling us to a deeper level of awareness, a more conscious way of being.
Speaking of being in the world, it makes me think about Whitman's incredible ability to transport us through time and space. His language is so vivid, it's like he's creating these virtual reality experiences in our minds.
He was amazing at using sensory details. He uses words to paint pictures, evoke smells, create this full body immersion in whatever scene he's describing. He wants you to feel like you're right there experiencing it firsthand.
the places he takes us i mean one minute you're walking down a busy city street the next you're out on the prairie surrounded by buffalo it's like this whirlwind tour of america and even beyond america remember those lines my ties and ballasts leave me my elbows rest in sea gaps i skirt sierras my palms cover continents he's not bound by time or space he's storing through history across continents even into the cosmos
It's like watching a movie with quick cuts and different perspectives. It's exhilarating. And he doesn't shy away from the darker side of life either. He takes us right into the middle of battles, confronts us with the horrors of war, the suffering of the wounded.
He's showing us life in all its complexity, the beauty and the terror, the joy and the heartbreak. He's not trying to sugarcoat it or give us some idealized version of the world.
It's that honesty, that willingness to look at it all that makes him so compelling, so real.
I agree. He's reminding us that life is this mix of light and shadow, and they're both essential parts of the experience. That's a powerful message.
It really is. It makes you think about how often we try to avoid the tough stuff, the uncomfortable parts of life. But Whitman's urging us to face it, to accept it all as part of the cycle.
Exactly. And he does it with this incredible sense of wonder and acceptance. It's like he's constantly discovering something new, even in the most ordinary things. Like in Section 31, where he talks about finding letters from God dropped in the street and seeing the divine in the faces of men and women.
It's a beautiful thought, isn't it? The idea that the extraordinary exists all around us if we just open our eyes to see it.
It is. He's like retraining us to look closer, to pay attention, and to find those moments of grace in the everyday.
So he's not just taking us on these journeys through time and space. He's also taking us on a journey inward, encouraging us to explore the landscapes of our own minds and hearts.
That's a great way to put it. He's inviting us to discover the vastness and complexity within ourselves, just like he's exploring the vastness and complexity of the world around him.
It's like he's saying the journey outward is also a journey inward. And he's not just telling us about it. He wants us to have these experiences ourselves.
Exactly. He wants us to be active participants, to engage with the world and find our own sense of wonder and connection.
All right. Well, before we get too lost in all that cosmic vastness, I want to bring us back down to Earth for a minute and talk about one of the most profound themes that runs through Song of Myself Death.
Ah, yes. The big mystery. It's a topic that makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but Whitman doesn't shy away from it at all.
And he does it in this way that's both, I don't know, unsettling, but also somehow comforting.
He doesn't treat it like this morbid or depressing thing. It's more like he's acknowledging death as just a natural part of life, a transition, not an ending.
Right. Exactly. Remember that line. And as to you, death, and you bitter hug of mortality, it is idle to try to alarm me. He's not afraid of it. It's almost like he welcomes it. He sees death as this transformation, this merging back into the source of everything.
Yeah. And the images he uses are so powerful. Like when he says, and as to you, corpse, I think you are good manure, but that does not offend me. I smell the white roses, sweet, scented and growing. I reach to the leafy lips. I reach to the polished breasts of melons. He's really not shying away from the physical reality of death, the decomposition of the body.
No, he's not. He's acknowledging it, even embracing it. He sees it as a way of creating new life. You know, it's a pretty powerful expression of his belief in the interconnectedness of everything.
It is. It's such a different way of looking at death than what we're used to in our culture. We tend to deny it, push it away. But Whitman's urging us to face it head on, to accept it as a natural part of the cycle of life.
It's definitely a lot to take in. You know, we've covered so much in this deep dive, but I feel like we've only just scratched the surface of Song of Myself.
There's always more to discover in Whitman's work. He was such a complex person and his poetry reflects that. Every time you go back and read Song of Myself, I think you'll find new layers of meaning.
It's the kind of poem that keeps on giving. And that's what makes it so special. It's not just some static thing. It's this living, breathing text that changes with each reader.
That's a great way to put it. It's like a conversation that spans across time, connecting us to Whitman and to each other.
Okay. Before we wrap up, I want to touch on one more important part of Whitman's philosophy, the importance of individual experience and interpretation. He's not trying to tell us exactly what to think. He wants us to find our own truth in his words.
Yeah, exactly. He even writes, you shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me. You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself. He wants us to be active readers, to engage with the work and come to our own conclusions.
So it's not just about passively reading. It's about grappling with ideas, questioning things, and coming to your own understanding.
Exactly. It's about taking the knowledge and making it your own.
Making the poem your own, too. Finding your own personal connection to it.
And that's the beauty of great art, right? It speaks to each of us individually, even as it connects us to something bigger.
OK, I have to ask, you know, Whitman is clearly a genius, a visionary poet who really changed the course of American literature. But like, why should the average person, someone who maybe doesn't read a lot of poetry, care about Song of Myself? What can it offer them?
That's a great question. I think at its core, Song of Myself gives us this path to self-discovery and a deeper connection with everything around us. It encourages us to embrace who we are, to see the beauty in the everyday, and to find a sense of belonging in the universe.
It's a poem that can help us understand our own lives, to find meaning and purpose. And it can be a source of, I don't know, comfort, inspiration, and also a challenge, all at the same time.
That's beautiful. I think that's a great place to pause for a second and let those ideas sink in. We've covered so much in this deep dive, but there's still so much to explore in Song of Myself. We'll be back in just a sec to wrap up with some final thoughts and some questions to leave you with. Stick around.
Okay, we're back for the last part of our deep dive into Song of Myself. It's been, well, it's been quite a journey. We've covered the body, democracy, even death. We've traveled through time and space, and it's all in this one poem.
It really shows just how vast Whitman's vision was and his skill with language is incredible. He takes all these huge themes and weaves them into something that's both complex and incredibly personal. And I think that's why it still speaks to people today.
It really does get under your skin. You know, it makes you think, makes you feel things, makes you question everything you thought you knew about poetry and yourself and the world.
Exactly. That's what makes it so powerful. It's not just a pretty poem to admire. It's a call to action. Whitman wants us to really engage with these ideas, to let them change us.
So before we finish up this deep dive, I want to leave our listeners with something to think about, some questions to ponder.
I like that because Song of Myself isn't just some intellectual exercise. It can be a guide for how to live a better life.
Okay, so listener, here's a question. How can you take Whitman's ideas and apply them to your own life? What does it mean to celebrate yourself, not in like narcissistic way, but in a way that embraces everything you are, even the flaws?
That's a good question to start with. And it goes beyond just accepting yourself. You know, Whitman wants us to look for those connections to find common ground with people who seem different from us. How can you be more understanding and empathetic when you interact with people?
It makes you think about all the division in the world. But Whitman is saying that underneath it all, we're all connected. Part of this big, messy, beautiful thing called life.
Right. And he reminds us that this connection goes beyond just humans. Remember how much he loved nature, how he was in awe of even the smallest creatures. How can you connect more deeply with the natural world? Can you find that same sense of wonder in the everyday things?
These are big questions, aren't they? They're not the kind of questions that have simple answers.
Definitely not. Whitman isn't giving us a step by step guide or anything. He wants us to go on our own journeys of self-discovery, find our own answers, sing our own songs.
It's like he gives us this map, but there are all these blank spaces we have to fill in ourselves. Maybe that's the whole point. The journey is more important than the destination.
I think you might be right. It's about embracing the unknown, trying new things and letting ourselves change and grow.
It's about being present in the moment, isn't it? Paying attention to what's around us, to the beauty, the pain, the joy, the sadness, all of it.
Exactly. It's about living with intention and awareness. It's about choosing to see the world with a sense of wonder and gratitude, even when things are tough.
So listener, as you go about your day, try to keep a little bit of Whitman's spirit with you. Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary things. Embrace the messiness and complexity of life. Celebrate your own unique song and really listen for the symphony of voices all around you.
That's a beautiful thought. Whitman's Song of Myself reminds us that life is this amazing gift, a chance to experience and connect and create.
It's a poem that inspires us, challenges us, comforts us, and helps us find our place in it all.
I couldn't have said it better myself. And I think it's time to wrap up our deep dive.
Yeah. Thank you so much for joining us as we explore this incredible poem by Walt Whitman. We hope you've enjoyed the journey. Until next time, keep exploring, keep asking questions, and keep singing your own song.