Walt Whitman's Ethos: Unity, Democracy, and America

Introduction: Soul, Physicality, and Whitman's Vision

The poetry and thought of Walt Whitman are driven by a profound need to reconcile the conception of a disembodied soul with his deep veneration for human physicality. Whitman believes that an abyss has formed between these two aspects of human existence and is determined to bridge them. In essence, he holds that the metaphysical dimension of humanity is entirely detached from its physical counterpart. It is this conviction, applied to the United States, that made him one of America's greatest poets. This paper seeks to elucidate the unity that Whitman desires as expressed through several of his poems.

Plato's Soul and the Power of Literature

The notion of an ethereal soul and the existence of a pure, imperceptible spiritual world have prevailed across countless philosophical and religious traditions throughout history. According to Plato in the Republic, the soul is divided into three distinct parts: Logos (reason), Eros (desire), and Thumos (spirit or emotion). The soul arises from the combination of these three elements and is considered a separate entity within the human being. Plato acknowledges the possibility of an extra-sensory activity that prepares the soul for rational and sound judgment.

Plato recognizes the power of literature in society. He positions literary thought as a precondition to logos — that is, speech and reasoned account — because of literature's capacity to cultivate in the soul the very ethos essential for sound judgment. Literature and poetry can accomplish this because they produce real changes in the condition of the soul itself.

Democracy and Labor in 'I Hear America Singing'

In the poem "I Hear America Singing," Walt Whitman acknowledges the differences among the various kinds of people in America, noting that the voices he overhears are "each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else" (Whitman 313, lines 9–11). Yet the ethos of the poem is one that reiterates social closeness, togetherness, and inclusion. For Whitman, despite the differences among individuals, America remains a single, unified sequence of peoples. This poem underlines Whitman's essential outlook toward America, which forms a central part of his ideal of human life.

The nation of America, in Whitman's view, has founded its identity on the creativity and industriousness of labor, which he venerates in "I Hear America Singing." The procession of craftsmen in the poem reflects not only the geographic breadth of the American landscape but also the vast and diverse range of American achievement. This poem articulates the love and admiration Whitman holds for America — its vitality, its variety, and the tangible success born from the inventive effort of all its people.

Gender Equality in 'I Sing the Body Electric'

One of the most striking aspects of the optimism portrayed in Whitman's work regarding America and its future is his vision of equality between men and women. He holds a democratic conviction that men and women are equal, and this outlook is especially apparent in his depictions of both male and female life. The romantic optimism revealed in "I Sing the Body Electric" is grounded in Whitman's belief that women are not inferior to men. Indeed, his poetry frequently functions as an ode to women, presenting them as channels of life itself.

Whitman balances the essence of both man and woman throughout the poem. He states: "The man's body is sacred and the woman's body is sacred / No matter who it is, it is sacred ... Each has his or her place in the procession" (Whitman 125). The logic of gender equality is mirrored in his structural syntax, as Whitman creates a sense of poise through repetitive phrasing. The repetition of the subject "body" and the predicate "sacred" in this passage effectively validates his democratic vision. The conjunction "and" functions as a rhetorical pivot, while "the man's body" and "the woman's body" balance each other with equal syntactic weight.

In this line, Whitman proclaims that men and women are destined to complement one another, and that neither is subordinate to the other. Men and women are equally important because they embody and enact coordinating natures and purposes. Whitman's perspective is a significant observation on social dynamics, and it stems from his sustained belief that human beings are beautifully and purposefully created.

Conclusion: Whitman's Optimism and America's Future

The future imagined within the work of Walt Whitman is one that is bright and positive. There is no bitterness or sullenness in his poems, but rather an invigorated, embracing emotion that can only be described as joy. He envisions a future in which the many divisions present within the United States have converged to create unity. He also imagines a future in which men and women are equal and genuinely complement one another.

As Plato argued in the Republic, music and art have the capacity to shape in the soul the very ethos essential for sound judgment. This is abundantly evident in the work and thought of Walt Whitman. Whitman perceives the human soul as having been severed from its physicality — a severance made manifest in the disparities between white and black, master and slave, rich and poor. In his poems, he expresses admiration for the achievements America has attained and insists that these achievements arise from the determination of every individual. He longs for a society that looks beyond its divisions and unites in common purpose, and he believes that men and women are equal and meant to supplement each other in that shared endeavor.

Works Cited

Plato, G. M. A. Grube, and C. D. C. Reeve. Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1992. Print.

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Ed. Malcolm Cowley. New York: Viking Penguin, Inc., 1986.

Whitman, Walt. "I Hear America Singing." Poets.org. Accessed 30 November 2015.