Reflection- Chanting the Square Deific

While reading "Chanting the Square Deific" by Walt Whitman, I definitely noticed things that portrayed his ideas of self and spirituality.   In a sense, I got the feeling that Walt Whitman was very full or proud of himself.

"Chanting the Square Deific" is told in first person, and Walt Whitman starts out by comparing himself to the gods by saying he is "Time, old, modern as any" (Whitman).  He says that he is relentless and will take down anyone that goes against what he believes in or what he is doing.  This may portray Walt Whitman's idea of self that says a person is an individual.  Everyone has a right to his or her thoughts.  This may also show that Whitman was a hard headed man and was the type of person that felt like he was always right.  It was either his way, or no way.  Allowing oneself to be an individual and not listen to what others is another point being made (which goes along with spirituality).  Walt Whitman must have been extremely fond of himself because he keeps referring to himself as a god ("the mightier God I am" (Whitman)) and talks about how charitable he is and how he gave up his world to help those under him.  "But my charity has no death--my wisdom dies not, neither early nor late,/ And my sweet love bequeath'd here and elsewhere never dies" (Whitman).  Basically, Walt Whitman is saying that in his godly state, he touches everywhere he goes with his kindness and generosity.  I definitely could have interpreted this wrong, but Walt Whitman really seems to feel like he is so important to society--or, at least his role in this particular poem.  Later in the poem, he refers to himself as the "general soul" (Whitman), which takes me away from that opinion a little bit.  If you are so awesome and helpful and above everyone else, why would you suddenly call yourself the same as everyone else?  I think this ties into what we discussed during class about the definition of "self."  As a singular, solitary person, you are your "self."  BUT, you influence and are very much influenced by the people around you.  Without your singluar self, there would be no groups of "selves," but without those "selves" there would be no singular self.  It is a twisted circle in our society.  Walt Whitman recognized that and found twisted, hidden ways to include it in his poetry.  What a peculiar man.

Walt Whitman uses the square of the Father, Son, Satan and Holy Spirit.  He incorporates these into his poem to describe "self."  The Son is forgiving, happy, kind and loving.  The Father is merciless, relentless, and has little remorse.  Basically, all of his decisions are final.  He makes the point to tie all of these together and compare it to how an individual is a "self," but together (as all the people in the world) we make ourselves.

"The Walt Whitman Archive." CHANTING THE SQUARE DEIFIC. (Leaves of Grass [1891-1892]) -. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.