Introduction
It is important to note that both Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson played a critical role in establishing and exploring the idea of individualism in American literature. Their works were profoundly influential in propagating the essential and vital ideas centered around being an individual. Individual choice, decision-making, wisdom, and input are cornerstones of democracy, where collective decisions are made by reflecting each social member’s interest.
Walt Whitman
An outstanding work titled “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman is an excellent piece of literature to explore how the ideas of individualism were expressed and manifested in literary writing. Whitman writes, “I know I am solid and sound, to me the converging objects of the universe perpetually flow, all are written to me, and I must get what the writing means” (13). In other words, an individual is situated in a dynamic and ever-changing environment of the natural world. There is a sense of deep interconnectedness between a person and his or her surrounding, which requires communication and mutual understanding. Whiteman continues, “I exist as I am, that is enough, if no other in the world be aware I sit content, and if each and all be aware I sit content” (14). Thus, despite this mutual awareness of individuality and connectedness with nature, a state of calm and patience is necessary to be an individual.
Emily Dickinson
“There is Another Sky” is a short poem by Emily Dickinson where the relationship between individualism and the natural world is explored. Dickinson writes, “I hear the bright bee hum, prithee, my Brother, into my garden come” (85). The work illustrates that an individual is not strictly tied to the natural world since one can escape into another imaginary place. A secondary source suggests that individuals tend to use escapist approaches to satisfy their needs when they cannot be realized with the real natural world’s constraints, such as gaming (Giardina et al. 5). Therefore, a garden is a place of escapism, which defines an individual’s ability to traverse between reality and imagination.
The poem “On This Wondrous Sea” by Dickinson explores individualism as a product of the natural world’s tribulations. She writes, “on this wondrous sea, sailing silently, Ho! Pilot, ho! Knowest thou the shore where no breakers roar – where the storm is o’er?” (Dickinson 89). Unlike collectivism, for an individualist, the problems of the world become personal, which is why participation and growth are more dynamic (Triandis 141). The stanza is about being a small individual in a large expansive world seeking safety from the challenges and hardships of existence. In “I Have a Bird in Spring,” Dickinson writes, “then will I not repine, knowing that bird of mine though flown shall in distant tree bright melody for me return” (90). This reflects the reciprocity between an individual and the natural world, where the former’s input leads to the latter’s output.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that both Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson explore the idea of being an individual within the context and in relationship with the natural world. Although the poets agree that there is a mutual interconnectedness, an individual is a separate entity capable of escaping from physical reality. At the same time, one grows and develops through the dynamic changes and challenges presented by the environment, which makes the interaction more reciprocal.
Works Cited
Dickinson, Emily. The Complete Poems. Global Grey Ebooks, 2020.
Giardina, Alessandro, et al. “Research Directions in the Study of Gaming-Related Escapism: A Commentary to Melodia, Canale, and Griffiths (2020).” International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, vol. 8, 2021, pp, 1-8.
Triandis, Harry C. Individualism and Collectivism. Routledge, 2019.
Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. Leaves of Grass. 1855.