Section+12

In section 12, the speaker describes the actions of several workers in a town and uses various techniques to portray the idea of people being who they are and having a place in society. He repeats “over-hand” (215) three times creating an image of a great power or force controlling the people working. The use of the word over, which by definition means throughout the whole extent of something, emphasized the transcendentalist idea of the over-soul.

The value of the individual is dramatized through the speaker's juxtaposition of two men doing their jobs signifying a jumping between the two people’s duties, both of which are made to seem common and mundane. When the speaker states that “each man hits in his place” (216) at the end of the section, he produces the picture of everyone having their place and responsibility in society. Whitman, by connecting these ideas, depicts the message of accepting people for who they are because they have their role to society and should be loved as a brother for that. This idea also plays into the analysis of Section 13, where the speaker discusses more about the idea of acceptance.

As the speaker describes a butcher-boy, he says that he “puts off his killing clothes, or sharpens his knife at the stall in the market” (209), and by using the word or, he makes the two tasks seem commonplace and boring. Even so, the speaker says “I loiter, enjoying his repartee” (210), proving that there is joy to be had in even the most mundane tasks, if one has pride and integrity when accomplishing those tasks. The speaker uses diction such as “loiter” (210), meaning to delay or dawdle, to describe himself. This demonstrates the idea of stepping back and watching the world from an unbiased point of view. Watching from an outside point of view, you can learn and experience from others. This relates to the transcendentalist idea of spacing yourself from society and returning to nature to find insight.


 * Important Quotes / Notes**

“loiter” (210) -A verb meaning “to delay or dawdle” Whitman appreciates menial tasks Pride in even the smallest job

“each has his main-sledge” (212) - A sense of anonymity No one man is singled out Beauty in everyday things

“over-hand” -Repetition: Creates a powerful unison of them all working with strength -Connection: the over soul, all the people are part of something bigger Everyone has their place in the community Power of a country that is unified

Over Definition: throughout the whole extent of something connection :The over soul

Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. Shorter 6th ed. New York: Norton, 2003. 1003-47.