In class we talked about how Whitman looked up to Emerson, and it was interesting to observe how this can be seen throughout his poem, “Song of Myself.”

From the very beginning, it is clear that Whitman and Emerson had very similar ideals. They both cry out against looking back and relying on historical perspectives, calling for a larger emphasis on experiencing things for yourself. In lines 34-37, Whitman writes “You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books.” He beseeches the reader to observe and interpret things for themselves, exactly like Emerson does in the first paragraph of “Nature”, when he writes “why should we grope among the dry bones of the past […] The sun shines to-day also.”

Both writers also express their belief in the divinity of the individual. Whitman declares “I know the hand of God is the promise of my own, // And I know that the spirit of God is the brother of my own,” while Emerson writes about being “a particle of God” in “The Divinity School Address.” They both seem to consider themselves as a deity in some way.

An interesting contradiction between the two is that Whitman is known for his poetry while Emerson is not. Considering all that Emerson wrote glorifying poets, its not surprising that Whitman was a poet, but Emerson himself was not known for his poems, but rather his lectures. Reading his poem “The Adirondacs”, I feel that it is apparent that poetry was not Emerson’s strong suit. He has none of Whitman’s confidence or rhythm. I can’t help but wonder about how Emerson felt about this young follower whose poetic abilities far outpaced his own.