Section+4

In section 4 of //Song of Myself//, Walt Whitman criticizes that society impresses all of its ideas, protocols, and attitudes to those who come in contact with it, leaving no opportunity for the individual to create original ideas. Whitman considers a vast spectrum of everyday occurrences to have an “effect upon me of my early life,” showing that it is inevitable for people to acquire traits from their culture (59). The most prominent evidence is when a child mimics the behavior of their parents. Not only is this evident in familial situations, but it also can be applied to principles in society. Walt Whitman himself highly regards the concept of the individual and stresses that people should be critical of society in order to formulate their own opinions.

Walt Whitman's influence from this section was also included in a modern day song called, "Who We Are", by Hope Partlow. media type="youtube" key="3zIxNDLeqvg&rel=1" height="355" width="425" Within this song, Partlow talks about the idea mentioned earlier that one should create their own beliefs and be their own individual rather than conforming to what media and others say to be.

Also in this section, Whitman expresses the idea of accepting fate and death. When the speaker says, "I have no mockings or arguments—I witness and wait," (72-73) it is as if the speaker were saying to have no regrets in life and to observe life and wait for death. This supports the idea of casually accepting fate because it will happen no matter what people do to prevent it.

Whitman urges those reading his poem to be themselves by not conforming to what others believe, and to take on a child’s perspective. Everything that encompasses society is not the “Me myself” (66). An individual is not solely what he or she sees around them. Each soul is unique and beautiful in diverse ways. Rather than imitate others, he encourages activities that shape and mold ones own identity.

After creating a lengthy list depicting regular occurrences that could possibly affect a person’s outlook on life, Whitman warns others not to let unpleasant situations make them bitter such as “Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war,” (64). Whitman lived through the Civil War and understands now that even though he dislikes war and the pain it causes others, the excruciating experience should not impinge on his personality. Firsthand, Whitman observed the torturous effect horrific memories could have upon a person. Instead of dwelling on the dreadful aspects of society and trying to find out what went wrong, revert back to a childlike mentality of content bliss by being “curious” and “watching and wondering” at life (78-79). Whitman tried and failed to comprehend the purpose of existence since he “sweated through fog with linguists and contenders,” (72). He has arrived to the conclusion that people should accept life with both its fantasies and horrors.

Whitman uses lists to demonstrate the multitude of characteristics society imposes on the speaker. His first list is composed of all the facets of society that could influence him, ranging from his “latest dates” (60) to “depressions or exaltations,” (63). Steadily the list begins to have a bleaker outlook on life, while in the beginning it stays very carefree and light. He incorporated both aspects of life in order to remind people of the vast range of events that could mold a person, no matter how trivial and meaningless they may seem at that moment. Whitman’s second list tries to define the speaker as a man who is “amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary,” (69). Whitman does not directly define exactly who the speaker is as a human being, but instead uses common traits so that the audience can make their own assumptions about him.

There are also other texts that relate to Whitman’s idea of the individual. //Self Reliance// was written slightly before //Song of Myself//. Therefore it would have influenced Whitman’s American style of writing. Although the //Crucible// was written after //Song of Myself//, it still has the idea present that society makes people form opinions about others in the form of neighbors turning on neighbors and being accused of witches. In //A Separate Peace//, Gene went so far as to put on Finny’s clothes to try to be like him, since he was always jealous of Finny. In the //Pearl// by John Steinbeck, which was also written long after //Song of Myself//, Steinbeck focused on how society corrupted a man who found a pearl in the ocean so much that he lost his son because of his greed. If he had stuck to his original ideas and not been corrupted by society, none of the madness would have happened.