Discuss Whitman’s poetry as a culmination in the development of American identity. How does Whitman contribute to the ongoing evolution of human freedom? (300 word minimum).

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Whitman’s Poetry
Walt Whitman is one of the prominent poem writers. He grew at a time when the United States experienced the cold war and also gained the political and commercial power. He witnessed abolition of certain social injustices such as slavery. This prompted him to centre his poems on issues of equality, brotherhood and democracy. Most of Whiteman’s work focuses on the growth of the United States and how it developed to become a great state. The civil war and sectionalism had threatened to destroy the possibility of establishing the modern United States. Whiteman dealt with issues of immense deaths during the cold war and population growth by discussing the lifecycles of individuals. Poems such as “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” indicate that death is a critical phase in the life of people (Prior). The conceptualization gave hope to the American people that dead soldiers had played their role in the establishment of United States. Furthermore, Whitman viewed democracy as a way of experiencing the world rather than a political system.
In the 19th century, people could not believe that democracy would flourish in the United States. To dispel those fears, Whitman became democratic in both his life and poetry. He saw democracy as a means of interpersonal interaction which would enable individuals to assimilate their philosophies in their daily lives. For example, in the poem “Song of Myself” Whitman noted that democracy is supposed to include all people and that it is likely to fail if some people are excluded (Prior).

According to Whitman, democracy should go beyond the world of politics making become part of our lives. Also, he highlighted that communities are likely to flourish they pull together the diverse opinions of the people. Today, the United States is recognized as one of the democratic nations. People enjoy their rights and freedoms without the interference from the government. Besides, Whitman’s emphasis on equality and diversity has gone a long way in shaping the ideals of America. Thus, Whitman’s poems played a significant role in the development of American identity.
Moreover, Walt praised the beauty of individuals. He figured a democratic nation as an integrated system composed of diverse but equal people. He emphasized that every voice should be considered in a democratic country since all people are equal (Prior).Whitman went to the extent of praising particular individuals such as Abraham Lincoln for their dedication in creating a democratic society. These individuals emphasized the need for people to be treated equally on the basis that they are humans. As such aspects of gender, race, religion and nationality should not be considered when giving human freedom.
Work Cited
Prior, Karen. “Why Walt Whitman Called America The ‘Greatest Poem'”. The Atlantic, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/why-walt-whitman-called-the-america-the-greatest-poem/510932/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/why-walt-whitman-called-the-america-the-greatest-poem/510932/. Accessed 15 Oct 2018.