"The Celebration of Individuality"

RESPONSES

  The first text I read for today's reading was Song of Myself by Walt Whitman. I had a hard time understanding this poem. In the stanzas that I read, I feel that Whitman uses many different examples of individuality. He points out many different people (stanzas 15-16) doing different things. It is also evident that Whitman believes in God, and values him. Whitman is also very content with himself: "I resist anything better than my own diversity". Whitman shows optimism in his opinion of the human race. He believes everyone is created equal, and no one is better than anyone else. I did like this theme of the poem. A line that exemplifies Whitman's idea of power and specialness of individuals is line 520: "Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touch'ed from". 

  The second text I read was by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance". I was familiar with some of Emerson's other work as well as this passage. Emerson stresses that they key to individuality is following one's on belief, and not conforming to what is popular. A lot of times what is popular is not always what is best for an individual person, and Emerson wants the reader to remember this: "trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string." Both authors celebrate themselves for their non-conformity, and inspire others to do the same: "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." It is evident that during Emerson's lifetime he was a non-conformist. He was a chief founder of the Transcendentalist movement, and many of their fundamentals are littered in this essay. Whitman was also a follower of this movement, and sent one his works to Emerson for his opinion. Both authors believe God created human beings to be individuals and that we should celebrate this uniqueness we were created with.

 The last text I read today was "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. I enjoyed this short story. The story begins with a woman learning the news of her husband's untimely death in a railroad accident. She is in shock and takes some time to her self away from her sister. As she revels in the news, one thing floods her mind: she is free. I assume that she had a hard life living with her husband. Most women would be depressed at the news of their husband's death, however, she is elated. When she leaves the room, she is surprised to see her husband walk through the door. Surprised to the point that she dies. I think that with the death of her husband, the woman felt truly free, in her mind, heart, and soul. When this is taken away from her she can not simply live, having enjoyed that short, but sweet taste of freedom. 

QUESTIONS

1. Do you think that Emerson and Whitman would have rather had death, like the character in Chopin's story, than to lose their individuality?
2. Why does Richard try to shield Louise from her husband?

CONNECTIONS

1. I think that Barlteby's story would have fit just as well in today's blog posting. Do you think it was his non-conformity that eventually led to his death?