Section+18

In section 18, the speaker focuses on illustrating that everyone is equal and that they should be treated as such.

The speaker's diction in the first three stanzas celebrates the victors of a battle on those they defeat equally, stressing that every one is human. Instead of playing “marches for accepted victors only”, he is careful to include “…great marches for conquer’d and slain persons” (354) as well. The word “accepted” shows that not only certain people should be accepted by others, but everyone. The speaker explains that “it is good to fall—battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won” (356). He notices that goodness can be extracted from a “fall” which is considered negative. Instead of fearing defeat, people should understand that the journey is important and the same for all. Although the victors are the most celebrated, those who lose battles are just as human as those who win and deserve equal attention. By finding a connection between “lost” and “won”, Whitman finds that they are equal and derived from the same battle and “same spirit” (356). He “beat[s] and pound[s] for the dead” and “blow[s] his embouchures [his] loudest and gayest for them” (357-58). While most people focus on praising those who have lived from a battle, Whitman expresses his appreciation the “loudest and gayest” for those who have died, trying to find a balance between the two (358). Although they might be forgotten and considered defeated, the speak emphasizes their importance and celebrates loudest for them. Instead of glorifying the people who have succeeded, he gives glory “to those who have fail’d” and would be considered beneath because of their failure (359). The speaker also gives glory “to those who have fail’d!/And to those whose war-vessels sank in the sea!/And to those themselves who sank in the sea!/ And to all generals that lost engagements!/ And all overcome heroes! (359-62). Using the words “sank”, “lost”, and “overcome” exudes a sense of sadness, but he is saying that they must be praised too (360-62). The exclamation points demonstrate the importance of those who have been unsuccessful, placing a strong emphasis on failure. The repetition of “and” shows the continuation of failure, and that it can never be fully overcome. He even states that the “numberless unknown heroes” are “equal to the greatest heroes known” expressing the idea of equality again.

The author appeals to the sense of hearing in the section of the poem which can be seen in the opening line of the section by saying "With music strong I come, with my cornets and my drums" (353). Immediately, he introduces new sounds to the reader and appeals to a sense other than sight and touch which was common in the previous stanzas. The word choice also appeals to the sense of sound through the use of the words "beat" and "blow" which emphasize the use of the drum that was mentioned in the opening. Furthermore, the repetition of the word "And" in the last stanza offers a repitition that is consistent and rhythmic like the beat of a drum. By doing so, the author continues the sense of hearing which adds authority to the text because the structure itself is able to replicate the sounds being described, thus bringing it to life to stress the application of his message of acceptance to life beyond the confines of his poem.