Section+49

Section 49 of //Song of Myself// discusses the importance of embracing our mortality. The speaker perceives death as a natural stage in life with the understanding that it should not bring a sense of fear to any individual. The section begins with a strong, powerful tone as the speaker addresses, "Death" as a "bitter hug of mortality" (1289). An unfaltering front toward death explains the fearlessness in the speaker when it comes to this topic. The speaker views death more as a, "relief and escape" from a corruped society rather than something that will end his life forever for eternity (1293).

On the first line of the section, the speaker capitalizes Death in order to personify it and informs death that "it is idle to try and alarm [him]" (1289), expressing the idea that death is nothing to fear; it is a completely natural cycle of life. The speaker then states "And as to you Death," (1286), "And as to you, Corpse," (1291), "And as to you Life" (1294). Through utilizing parallelism the speaker shows the infinite cycle of life, and the connection between every stage. The speaker proclaims that death is not to be feared, because it is a natural part of life that cannot be avoided. This parallelism also reveals that death brings new life, and shows the speaker’s appreciation for being connected with individual’s who have preceded himself. The speaker comments on life saying "I reckon you are the leavings of many deaths" meaning that death is not a loss of life, life is simply the absence of death. One cannot exist without the other (1297).

Then in the third stanza, the speaker characterizes nature as humans that, "are good manure--but that does not offend" him (1294). By using characterization, the speaker unites those who have died and nature together, supporting the Transcendentalist idea that every individual shares a connection with everything else in the world.

Another theme is presented in the second half of section 49. There is still a focus on death, but now death is seen as being the benefit of being able to ascend from the turmoil of society. The speaker begins by speaking to nature as he seems frustrated with society through "O stars of heaven, / O suns-O grass of graves-O perpetual transfers and promotions" (1299, 1300). The speaker goes on to describe a "turbid pool" (1299) symbolizing society and all of its issues that are comprise of disturbance, confusion, and corruption. He then says "I ascend from the moon" (1303) meaning that he rises above society and all of it's corruption even farther than the point of which humanity is able to see. Section 49 teaches that death is natural and that man must accept it, rather than fear it while looking at the benefits of death.

The speaker employs contrasting images of “day and dusk” (1304) to exhibit that even though they might seem entirely different, the over-soul causes them to be at one with each other. The speaker also compares “offspring great or small” (1308) exemplifying that all humans are associated with each other, which allows them to share the same thoughts while still retaining their own individuality.