Essay on Whitman's "Song of Myself"

Integrating with the Grasses

 

“I am not an earth nor an adjunct of an earth”

(31)

 

            Cultivated by the pressure to succeed, produce, and strive is the need to differentiate one’s self from the rest of the world. From this need comes a fear of being lost in the universe. That if we allow ourselves to be incorporated with everything, we lose our identity, and our capacity to greatness; we become an indistinguishable fraction. This is a misconception that Whitman attends to in Song of Myself. While portraying the beauty and complexity that encompasses everything in this world, he asks, “Who need be afraid of the merge?” (31) Our egotism is a curse, the self-importance it lends– a folly. However, through discarding this fear of the merge, it is possible to tap into the greatness of the universe.

Distinctiveness depends on comparisons, yet comparisons are judgments placed on importance, value and success and lead to feelings of inadequacy. Whitman states, “I exist as I am, that is enough” (44), discontinuing the need for comparisons, both within himself and of things around him. For example, he does not “call the tortoise unworthy because she is not something else” (36); everything is innately sufficient. The dismissal of inadequacy enables the recognition of greatness. This greatness goes beyond authority, education, etc. It is the inexpressible wonder of existence. Whitman emphasizes the importance of the distinction between the inherent greatness of existence and greatness that one must strive for. He says “not words, not music or rhyme I want…. Not custom or lecture, not even the best,/ Only the lull I like, the hum of your valved voice” (28). He is not impressed by achievements, but rather by the fundamental greatness that connects every earthly thing. Therefore, a human being is as great as a blade of grass, and each are a miracle– an essential part of the vast wonder of life.

            Whitman’s Song of Myself emphasizes the complexity of the universe and every one of its pieces. The language and content of the poem is bursting with an appreciation of existence that inspires me to discard preoccupations with feelings of inadequacy, egotism, and, most importantly, fear of integrating with the universe. Song of Myself is “less the reminder of property or qualities, and more the reminder of life” (47), beckoning me to feel my importance as both a wondrous individual, and component of the great universe. The poem has instated within me the excitement to use all of my senses to connect with the world around me; to live without striving, learn, love and be for no pretentious reasons, but only because I am able to. Most importantly, I take up Whitman’s words and “celebrate myself” fully and truly (25). I do not celebrate my achievements or goals, nor my retained knowledge, but rather the miracle and mystery of existence.