Individualism in American Literature
             During the late Nineteenth century and the early Twentieth century the idea of individualism could be seen in the works of several American writers. Individualism can be referred to as the belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence. During the first half of our studies Walt Whitman's, Emily Dickinson's and Robert Frost's works represent some of the ideals of individualist.
             Walt Whitman possessed the courage and vision to be able to express his ideas and become the first voice of the revolution, first starting in European literature and then making its way to American literature. His individualistic beliefs can most prominently be seen in his poem Song of Myself. It deals with relating a blade of grass to an individual surrounded by others. Although, from a far the grass may appear to be all the same, in reality, each blade possesses their own unique qualities. I like the fact that Whitman has the child ask the question, "What is grass?" This particular symbol could have an infinite number of meanings depending on what one would perceive it to be. Although, we want our world to be democratic and treat people with equality, we also have to respect the beliefs and cultures of everyone around us. I think Whitman uses this poem to represent the fact that we should take pride in what each individual person in this world has to offer. The use of democracy shows that we, the individuals, want the allowance to be able to speak for ourselves and share our voice with others. Whitman was not scared to write about what he was passionate towards; rather it seemed he enjoyed sharing his feelings and emotions with the rest of the world. His style brought a new freshness to the art of writing. He used his past experiences to give him inspiration for the future. Again, in Song of Myself, he starts it ...