Romantic Individualism in Song of Myself

The Sense of Self and the Omniscient “I” in Whitman’s “Song of Myself”

Introduction

Walt Whitman\\\\\\\'s \\\\\\\"Song of Myself\\\\\\\" is an epic poem that celebrates the individual self while exploring the interconnectedness of all things. The poem is filled with imagery and symbolism, and it is characterized by an omnipresent \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" that seems to encompass all of humanity. Whitman\\\\\\\'s conception of the self in this poem is one that is both public and universal while simultaneously deeply personal. This essay will examine the sense of self and the omniscient \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" present in \\\\\\\"Song of Myself\\\\\\\" and explore how Whitman\\\\\\\'s perception of self relates to the common public perception of the self at the time, historically and culturally.

The Self and I

The sense of self in \\\\\\\"Song of Myself\\\\\\\" is both individualistic and universal. On the one hand, Whitman celebrates the uniqueness of the self, urging the reader to \\\\\\\"celebrate [their]self\\\\\\\" (line 1) and declaring \\\\\\\"I am large, I contain multitudes\\\\\\\" (line 135). At the same time, however, Whitman sees the self as interconnected with all things, stating \\\\\\\"Every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you\\\\\\\" (line 17) and \\\\\\\"I am the mate and companion of people, all just as immortal and fathomless as myself\\\\\\\" (line 20). The self, in Whitman\\\\\\\'s view, is not an isolated entity but rather a part of a larger whole.

The omniscient \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" in \\\\\\\"Song of Myself\\\\\\\" is Whitman\\\\\\\'s attempt to convey this interconnectedness. The \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" is all-encompassing, representing not only Whitman himself but also the reader and all of humanity. Thus, this omniscient \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" is not only a reflection of an exalted and universal spirit of egoism but also a recognition of the fundamental unity of all things: The \\\\\\\"I\\\\\\\" is an attempt to transcend individual consciousness and tap into a larger, more universal consciousness. It is the identity of the Transcendentalist, unbounded, representing all of humanity even as it represents Whitman himself.

Whitman\\\\\\\'s perception of self in \\\\\\\"Song of Myself\\\\\\\" is reflective of the cultural and historical context in which it was written. The mid-19th century in America was a time of great social and cultural change, and the concept of the self was being explored by thinkers, poets, and philosophers. Whitman\\\\\\\'s celebration of the individual self and his belief in the interconnectedness of all things supported this exploration and the emerging ideas of transcendentalism within the wider romantic movement.

The common perception of the self at that time had been one rooted in Christian thinking: for most people of the 19th century, salvation was still a somewhat important concept, something offered by way of Christianity. For religious Christians, it still held some importance for the individual soul. Whitman and other Transcendentalists challenged this notion: his poetry gives the sense that the self is sufficient and fine, not in any need of external aid from a higher power or authority (Reynolds).

Cultural and Historical Change in America

The mid-19th century in America was a time of great social and cultural change, characterized by the growth of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. This period saw the emergence of new ideas and beliefs that challenged the traditional views of society, religion, and politics. The Enlightenment had attacked the notion of faith, and the Romantic Age was now elevating the idea of individual experience and passion and spirit. The concept of the self was undergoing a transformation during this time, as people began to move away from the idea of the individual person being a sinful, fallen creature in need of redemption (Richardson).

Transcendentalism was one of the most influential movements that contributed to the transformation of the concept of the self (Reynolds). Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that emerged in the 1830s and 1840s in America, centered around the idea of individualism, self-reliance, and the interconnectedness of all things. Transcendentalists believed that individuals should seek to transcend the limitations of the material world and connect with a higher spiritual reality (Richardson).

The Transcendentalists rejected the notion that the self was inherently sinful or flawed, instead embracing a more positive and life-affirming view of the self (Reynolds). They believed that the self was capable of achieving spiritual growth and enlightenment through self-examination, introspection, and communion with nature. Moreover, the concept of the self in Transcendentalism was closely tied to the idea of the Oversoul, a spiritual entity that connected all living things (Reynolds). The Oversoul was seen as the source of all creativity, wisdom, and inspiration, and individuals were encouraged to tap into this higher consciousness to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them (Richardson).

Walt Whitman was influenced by Transcendentalism and shared many of its beliefs about the self and its relationship to the world. His celebration of the individual self and his belief in the interconnectedness of all things reflected the ideals of Transcendentalism, as did his rejection of traditional Christian views and his embrace of a more positive and life-affirming vision of the self.

These Changes as Seen in “Song of Myself”

Whitman portrays the self as a source of wonder and beauty, rather than a source of sin and shame. This is evident in lines such as: \\\\\\\"I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.\\\\\\\" Here, Whitman is asserting the equality and interconnectedness of all individuals, suggesting that every person is worthy of celebration and respect.

Whitman\\\\\\\'s belief in the fundamental unity of all things is also evident in \\\\\\\"Song of Myself.\\\\\\\" He sees the self as interconnected with the natural world and with other individuals, suggesting that all things are part of a larger, cosmic whole. This is evident in lines such as:

\\\\\\\"I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me, The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue.\\\\\\\" Here, Whitman is suggesting that he is intimately connected to both the physical and spiritual aspects of the self, and that these aspects are inextricably linked (Reynolds).

Finally, Whitman\\\\\\\'s rejection of traditional Christian views of the self is evident in his refusal to see the self as inherently sinful or flawed. Instead, he celebrates the self as a source of creativity and vitality. This is evident in lines such as: \\\\\\\"Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touched from, The scent of these arm-pits aroma finer than prayer, This head more than churches, bibles, and all the creeds.\\\\\\\" With these words, Whitman is suggesting that the self is capable of achieving a kind of divinity through its connection to the natural world and to other individuals (Reynolds).