I Sing The Body Electric, By Walt Whitman - 1093 Words

I Need You, Body and Soul The poem I Sing the Body Electric, by Walt Whitman is one of the poems from the original 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass. In I Sing the Body Electric, Whitman explores the physical body in connection with the soul. In this poem Whitman establishes the links between the body and the soul by celebrating perfection of the male and female body and the importance the body castes upon the soul and bodies connecting with one another. In this poem Whitman depicts the image of the perfect body for both male and female by listing specific characteristics that our soul and physical body connect with to make that body perfect. In I Sing the Body Electric Whitman bridges the gap between our thoughts and our bodies, arguing that they are both one divine entity. In this writing Whitman argues the two characteristics of this entity that rely on each other to become one and create the masterpiece. Whitman explains how the beauty of the body is dependent upon the thoughts in our mind and our thoughts are in turn the force that allows our body to contort beautifully in an outward expression of movement. For example, in section one Whitman questions, â€Å"And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?† Knowing the answer Whitman continues on to answer the body is the soul, our thoughts, our soul, is the body. In section six, Whitman explains how â€Å"The male is not less the soul nor more†. I agree with Walt Whitman in that the physical body and our thoughts, and soulShow MoreRelatedWalt Whitman: Sexuality Debate Essay examples759 Words   |  4 Pages Walt Whitman: Sexuality Debate The debate of one’s sexuality has more commonly come into the picture of American society towards the very end of the 19th century. A captious discussion is the lifestyle of Walt Whitman: American poet, essayist and journalist. Though modern critics tend to debate his sexuality, there is great disagreement as to whether Whitman ever had sexual relations with men, expressed alongside his poetry. Walt Whitman was born on Long Island on May 31st, 1819, justRead MoreNaked Through The Eddies Of The Sea1780 Words   |  8 PagesJacqueline Bitetto Mr. Breig English 11H 9 March 2013 Naked Through the Eddies of the Sea â€Å"I feel ashamed to go naked about the world† (Whitman). Poetry, for many, is a comfort and a pleasure for the senses. But, for Walt Whitman, it was something much more. Poetry was a channel for his most profound emotions and a mass broadcasting of his entire being. In his beautiful words, he was able not only to convey both misery and elation to the masses, but absolute truth. His Leaves of Grass revealed soRead MoreLeaves Of Grass By Walt Whitman915 Words   |  4 PagesLeaves on Grass is collection of poems written by an American poet named Walt Whitman. The first edition was published in 1855 but, Whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting Leaves of Grass, until his death in 1892 at the age of 72. Even though during the time his work was considered immoral later people began to realize the beauty behind his poems and started to appreciate the man who wrote them.Whitman s Leaves of Grass is iconic in American poetry because of the beautyRead Mo reEssay on Whitmans Music as a Means of Expression2414 Words   |  10 PagesWhitmans Music as a Means of Expression In his verses, Walt Whitman eradicates divisions of individual entities while simultaneously celebrating their unique characteristics. All components of the universe are united in a metaphysical intercourse, and yet, are assigned very distinct qualities so as to keep their identities intact. Often times, Whitman demonstrates these conceptions through elements of song. â€Å"Walt Whitman caroled throughout his verse. For the Bard of Democracy, as America cameRead MoreAmerican society has been drastically shaped through the strong beliefs of its poets, journalists2200 Words   |  9 Pagesbrilliant individuals, it is undeniable that they were highly influenced by the great Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman was a bright American individual who consistently crossed the conservative boundaries with his excellent writing skills. Walter â€Å"Walt† was an American poet, essayist and journalist. He was a big part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism and both of his vi ews were apparent in his works. Walt Whitmans work was very controversial for his time period, especially his greatRead More Walt Whitman: Homoeroticism in Leaves of Grass Essay1874 Words   |  8 PagesLeaves of Grass is Walt Whitman’s life legacy and at the same time the most praised and condemned book of poetry. Although fearful of social scorn, there are several poems in Leaves of Grass that are more explicit in showing the homoerotic imagery, whereas there are several subtle – should I say â€Å"implicit† – images woven into the fabric of the book. It is not strange, then, that he created many different identities in order to remain safe. What Whitman faced in writing his poetry was the difficultyRead MoreSex Sexuality in the Poetry of Walt Whitman3834 Words   |  16 PagesI have not gaind acceptance of my own time, but have fallen back on fond dreams of the future (by Walt Whitman, qtd. in Miller, Sex and Sexuality) SEX AND SEXUALITY IN THE POETRY OF WALT WHITMAN Perhaps, in the following essay I put a quart into a pint pot, because I intend to puzzle out, or rather, find and give a deeper insight into Walt Whitmans sexuality that is still a question on agenda. There are readers and critics who state that it is a shame to humble his poetry to this levelRead MoreDoes Belonging Mean Compromise?1739 Words   |  7 Pagesdid you belong? Writers such as Whitman and Wilde, both denied being apart of any specific minority sexual identity at the time. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century there was no such thing as equal rights for sexual identities. Especially ones you couldn’t or refused to classify yourself with, like people can today. So what has changed over time? Because prior to this there was a feeling of alienation from LGBTQ throughout communities and in society. I argue that the development ofRead MoreSong of Myself by Walt Whitman2251 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"I celebrate myself, and sing myself / and what I shall assume you shall assume† (Whitman 1-2). These lines not only open up the beginning of one the best poems of the American Romantic period, but they also represent a prominent theme of one of this period’s best poet, Walt Whitman. In Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, Whitman deals with his time period’s most prominent theme of democracy. Whitman tells readers that they must not only observe the democratic life but they must become one with it. As