Symbolism in Whitman's Poem
Symbolism in Whitman’s Poems
A number of influences operated upon Walt Whitman (1819-1892) from childhood which inspired him to become a poet. His father’s democratic ideas went a long way towards making him a poet of democratic ideals. He expressed his ideas about democracy, love, sex, mysticism and science in his poems. While expressing his ideas he used symbols from nature, such as grass, plants, birds and heavenly bodies, enabling readers to understand his ideas clearly. “Indirection is an important aspect of the technique of communication of a mystic” (Briggs). In his poems he has made use of indirection and symbolism, as well as sensuous and concrete imagery in a highly sophisticated manner, to convey his perceptions.
Purpose of symbols in his poems Symbolism is essentially an oblique or indirect mode of expression, which suggests much more than is actually described or asserted. It increases the expressive power and range of a writer, and enables him/her to communicate to his/her readers’ highly abstract and metaphysical truths, which cannot be conveyed directly by the use of ordinary language. Whiteman’s poetry is highly, symbolic for he believed that true art is suggestive, and that it requires much painstaking labour. Moreover, he wanted to communicate to his readers his own perceptions of nature, man, and the world. 1. The essential “oneness”. 2. The spiritual reality. 3. The fluidity or liquidity. The “I” as symbol Language in India www.languageinindia.com 12: 6 June 2012 Premalatha, M. A., M. Phil., Ph.D. Candidate Symbolism in Whitman’s Poems
152
For example “I” in Whiteman’s poetry does not stand for the poet alone. It symbolises the modern American, the modern man, or even everyman. It symbolises the natural propensities in man, and thus it stands for all. As the poet has an overwhelming feeling of the oneness of all, the “I” may even symbolise a soldier on the battlefield, or a comet rushing through the heavens. I depart as air, I shake my
A number of influences operated upon Walt Whitman (1819-1892) from childhood which inspired him to become a poet. His father’s democratic ideas went a long way towards making him a poet of democratic ideals. He expressed his ideas about democracy, love, sex, mysticism and science in his poems. While expressing his ideas he used symbols from nature, such as grass, plants, birds and heavenly bodies, enabling readers to understand his ideas clearly. “Indirection is an important aspect of the technique of communication of a mystic” (Briggs). In his poems he has made use of indirection and symbolism, as well as sensuous and concrete imagery in a highly sophisticated manner, to convey his perceptions.
Purpose of symbols in his poems Symbolism is essentially an oblique or indirect mode of expression, which suggests much more than is actually described or asserted. It increases the expressive power and range of a writer, and enables him/her to communicate to his/her readers’ highly abstract and metaphysical truths, which cannot be conveyed directly by the use of ordinary language. Whiteman’s poetry is highly, symbolic for he believed that true art is suggestive, and that it requires much painstaking labour. Moreover, he wanted to communicate to his readers his own perceptions of nature, man, and the world. 1. The essential “oneness”. 2. The spiritual reality. 3. The fluidity or liquidity. The “I” as symbol Language in India www.languageinindia.com 12: 6 June 2012 Premalatha, M. A., M. Phil., Ph.D. Candidate Symbolism in Whitman’s Poems
152
For example “I” in Whiteman’s poetry does not stand for the poet alone. It symbolises the modern American, the modern man, or even everyman. It symbolises the natural propensities in man, and thus it stands for all. As the poet has an overwhelming feeling of the oneness of all, the “I” may even symbolise a soldier on the battlefield, or a comet rushing through the heavens. I depart as air, I shake my