Free Essay: I Sing the Body Electric by Walt Whitman

Published: 2023-07-23
Free Essay: I Sing the Body Electric by Walt Whitman
Essay type:  Response essays
Categories:  Poem Analysis Walt Whitman
Pages: 6
Wordcount: 1427 words
12 min read
143 views

I like the poem "I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt Whitman because it unravels the physical body connection to the soul. The poet creates a link between the soul and the body by celebrating the flawlessness of the female and the male's body and the significant impacts the body castes upon other bodies and souls linked by each other (Whitman 1). The poet strives to depict the perfect body's image for a flawless body for men and women by providing specific characteristics that their physical body and soul are linked to make the body perfects. I acknowledge that the poem helps to bridge the gap between our bodies and thoughts. Because our bodies and thoughts are assumingly one divine entity, the poet is certain that there exist two characteristics of the entity that depend on one another to establish a masterpiece.

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The poet posits how the beauty of the body relies on thoughts in a person's mind such that the thoughts depict the forces that permit one's body to contort beautifully to reveal an outward movement expression. The concept can be supported by the phrase, "And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?" (Whitman 1) The poet being privy of the answer continues to argue that the body is one's soul and thoughts. The phrase "The male is not less the soul nor more" supports that the physical body is our thoughts (Whitman 1).

I like the poem, focuses on the human body, and expounds deeply on physical infatuation. The poet showcases the ability to universalize the image of the body. Whitman characterizes the human body to convey messages on racial and social equality at a time when they seem suppressed. I like the poem because the striking images seek to serve a greater purpose on community and human unity that the poem aims to represent. In the poem, he captures the respect and profound love. The argument can be supported by the phrase "The body of the male is perfect, and that of the female is perfect" (Whitman 1). In this context, readers can understand that the poet puts a profound love and respect for human form regardless of race or sex.

I like the cosmic view of love that the poet embraces in his writings. Whitman perceives the love of human body perfection as a force permeating every living thing. Such that, love lends glory and dignity to the human body (Whitman 1). In other words, love unashamedly portray procreation and sex as the true life-cycle spring. I like the concept that the human body should be glorified. In essence, not only should the man's body be sacred, but also the women's body. However, if the body is to remain sacred, it does not necessarily render it as a slave. The poet supports this by the phrase, "No matter who it is, it is sacred-is the meanest one in the laborer's gang? (Whitman 1). The body should not be treated as dull-faced immigrants who have just landed on the wharf. From these arguments, I like the concept that every person belongs here. Thus, no matter your gender, one thing that holds is that every person's body is perfect. Regardless of a person's social status, poor or rich, every person has a place in the procession. In this context, the universe becomes a procession that has a perfect and measured motion.

I like how the poet describes a sacred entity by strictly focusing on body formation. Whitman impresses me by the use of word commonality. By using this term, the poet claims that commonality is shared by every individual by allowing his audience to draw a larger picture. The poets expound on the universe, which supersedes every physical identification (Whitman 1). The context is supported by when he claims that people can see that the bodies are the same in all times and nations. Thus, he believes that if physical things can be deemed as sacred, so does the human body. Arguably, identical sacredness embedded in every person proves the concepts that specify that all human beings' universality lies outsides the temporary physical body restriction. In other words, it reveals how these things are meaningless to the poet's view of the universe.

By studying the physical body of women and men, Whitman seeks to manifest love. In most instances, readers may gain an explicit description of female and male engaged in sexual acts. The concepts are supported by "Ebb stung by the flow and flow stung by the ebb, love-flesh swelling and deliciously aching, Limitless limpid jets of love hot and enormous, quivering jelly of love, white-blow and delirious juice," (Whitman 1). I like this text since they speak deeper as compared to physical infatuation. The poet intends to highlight the need to have a sexual union. In this context, sexual union is valued for a continuance of life.

However, by dwelling on sexual union issues, the poet gives a greater cause and erotic description. The poet argues that it seems like a strange eroticism form that started with all life miracles, specifically the human body (Whitman 1). Such that the human body conceives every form of love as existing and increasing the primal life force. Thus, it indicates the harmonious evolution of the universe and the infinite potential of the democratic ideal of ever-rising greatness.

I like this context since it demonstrates that the insertion of the erotic description and scenes were not intended for their own, but was extended to a true definition of love that needs to be established. If readers can interpret the physical representation of sexual acts as higher ideal promotion, they begin to understand the importance of different homosexual descriptions. The argument is supported by the phrase "two lusty apprentice-boy" to reveal how they have engaged in the homosexuality act (Whitman 1). In this context, Whitman's focus is to educate the reader on the need to embrace equality. Equivocally, the poet also defines love as all human interaction' materialization, which seems to be appreciated in such scenarios. The poet intends to elevate love to a different level by perceiving it to fit the offer of such scenes.

I like the way Whitman stresses the physical love, sex, and body as part of life celebration and part of nature. The poet elevates love to a new level, where it seems like a democratic equalitarianism' symbolic. The poem covers physical love, sex, and body in a passionate way. The sexual union seems to take a new meaning in a world where the physical body and spiritual soul seem to be merged. Whitman expresses the unity between soul and body and reveals the power that the connection gives to individuals (Whitman 1). Whitman embraces unity to allow the readers to expel their initial view of the physical distinction between sexes and races that elevated a person above others and rather resulted in a radical response that made the ground to be leveled to be embraced by every person. Through the use of unity, Whitman reveals that human beings are inevitably the same.

Although our physical appearance may be different, our bodies are inherently linked to the human soul, which creates unity. Whitman urges the women not to be ashamed of themselves since they have privileges that enclose the rest. By telling the women that they are the gate gates of the body and soul, the poets intend to reveal the connection. Whitman combines the body and soul to establish a sacred humanity vision. In essence, the readers gain a sense of unity that the poet tends to create by combining the soul and the body. The argument is supported by the phrase "O I say these are not the parts and poems of the body only, but of the soul, O I say now these are the soul!" (Whitman 1). Even at the end of the poem, he captures the connection of the body and soul in a sensational note of universality.

In conclusion, I like the cosmic view of love that the poet embraces in his writings. Whitman perceives the love of human body perfection as a force permeating every living thing. By studying the physical body of women and men, Whitman seeks to manifest love. In most instances, readers may gain an explicit description of females and male engaged in sexual acts. Although our physical appearance may be different, our bodies are inherently linked to the human soul, which creates unity.

Works Cited

Whitman, W. "I sing the body electric by Walt Whitman." Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45472/i-sing-the-body-electric.

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