Journal 1: Walt Whitman

Michelle Romero
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford


"Leaves of Grass [Song of Myself]" 1885 edition

“I celebrate myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”

Right from the opening quote, we are introduced to a major theme in Whitman’s poem, “Leaves of Grass.” Whitman uses language to suggest that all humanity is connected, both living and nonliving. For example, the speaker in this poem begins by saying, “I celebrate myself.” At first, it would appear as though he is a self-centered individual, gloating in his own splendor. However, he goes on to say, “And what I assume you shall assume,” almost as though he were suggesting or inviting his audience to join in his celebration as they assume the same. This idea is further supported in the next line: “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” The concept of one atom or particle on earth being shared by or affecting a separate particular, leads us to an illustration of an interlocking circle or pattern to life pulsating and consuming all it encounters.

In fact, a mentor of mine once said, “Beware the excesses of your generation because they will soon become the norms of the next.” I believe this idea is closely related to what Whitman is expressing though the speaker. For example, aside from the quote above, we find others like “Always a knit of identity,” and “Lack one lacks both….and the unseen is proved by the seen, Till that becomes unseen and receives proof in its turn.” These quotes reflect an interwoven pattern to life. The speaker is illustrating for us how one “lack,” or “excess” as my mentor would have put it, becomes seen, until the next lack then later becomes the seen, and these together create identity. Whitman is demonstrating the constant change of opinions and social values over time.

I completely agree with his insight in this portion of the poem which suggests that each generation, each change undergone, contributes to the creation of the new and affects all of humanity down to the slightest atom. To me, change begins in resistance. One example in American history is that of slavery and its later abolition as citizens began to realize the injustice of such opression. Racial equality, like gender equality did not come about overnight, yet over time the perceptions of society as a whole and the norms of today have drastically, to whatever limited degree, changed. However small the choices and actions of some men and women how ever long ago, led to more and more change until now when women can actually vote and share in equal rights, and even still not to the degree imaginable in the future I suspect. The point is that life, humanity, is intricately woven together and will inevitably and surely continue to change.

The other part of the message I believe the speaker recommends, is that if we will all end up assuming the same things eventually, why not just embrace the beauty of life in all its vulgarity right now? This is probably the more tricky part of accepting the word than just nodding and agreeing with someone else's ideas. Is society capable even to just throw their hands up and say, “What the hell, let’s celebrate?” I’m not sure.