Whitman
In Walt Whitman's "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking", he uses a poets reminiscing to develop the theme of the endless cycle of "birth and death". I feel he emphasizes that through death (an ending) can come a birth (a beginning) of something. He uses symbolism and various images of nature to develop and accomplish this theme. In the beginning of the poem Whitman uses images of a cradle, child, and "nine month midnight" to portray a sense of beginning and birth to the reader. He also uses "sterile" to convey a sense of purity in the child. This purity creates a sens
Whitman uses the young boy's awakening to death as the end of a particular existence and the start of a new one. His rebirth as a matured young man was accomplished through death and all it's possessions. He begs for the ocean to tell him what he is missing in his life. He does this through the understanding that death can lead to maturity of one stage and the rebirth of a new stage of life. Whitman portrays a time of death and mourning through the lonely "he-bird" that, sings a desperate song for the return of his lover and meaning of his life. The song depresses the boy and he desires to learn of what he hears. The maturing boy listening to the bird's song hears something he has never heard before. The two birds male and female together with a nest full of eggs also help the reader to develop a feel of "beginning". These birds relationship become the center of attention for the maturing young boy. The matured young man now realizes through the bird and sea not only what his meaning in life is but the secret of life is the continuing pattern of birth-death-rebirth. Whitman does an excellent job of portraying his theme of the cycle of life in this poem. While the boy is maturing along with the birds he experiences several new feelings of life including death and despair. He listens intently not only to the song of the bird but also to the ocean.
Common topics in this essay:
Endlessly Rocking,
maturing boy,
meaning life,
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Acceptance Essays
