American literature

American literature

Introduction

American literature is any literature written in America and talks about everything involving America and its colonies. How Americans carry themselves, their cultures, and their way of life. The initial ideas of American literature are identity, democracy, or reinvention. Song of Myself and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock talks about characters who find it challenging to find self-identity, but in return, granted peace of mind. They can appreciate themselves and learn to live within the situations around them.

Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and Eliot’s Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, are among the most important representatives in American literature. Through these poems, we can see people getting the peace of mind after appreciating who they are. And learning to understand people around them.

Body

The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock poem talks about a person who is searching for love. He believes that one day he is going to find love even though he is having challenges identifying a genuine love and approaching a woman.  The poem introduces us to a person who journeys through anxieties. In this journey, Prufrock faces a difficult situation that makes him lower his self-esteem. The opening line, ” Let us go then, you and I,” Prufrock invites readers to hear his story. He prepares the mind of the reader to get to know the life of Prufrock based on the problems he encounters, failure, doubt, and ruin.

He wears a mask because he assumes that the people he meets are not pleased with his physical appearance. He also believes that he will one day be presentable and reveal his face to the people he is meeting. “there will be time, there will be time. To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet”(ll.26-27). Throughout the poem, Prufrock continues to disgrace himself. He hates himself for not being attractive to the people he meets. He believes that he is unworthy and undesirable by societal standards. “Prufrock even sees himself below prominent people” No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do/  To swell a progress, start a scene or two, Advise the prince: no doubt, an easy tool” (111-114)

Prufrock is a respectable character in the poem; he is losing his hair, turning thin. He wants to revolve, but he does not know where to start. He is insecure, lonely, and loveless.

Although Prufrock is going through a difficult journey, he still believes that there will come a time to do many things in the social world.  Through this journey, Prufrock can accept who he is and understand he is growing old, the reason for his grey hair. He must learn to live in the condition he is

Song of Myself by Walt talks about the theme of democracy among the American people. The poem also focuses on the topic that life is a journey to uncover one’s self-identity. Song of Myself is all about celebrating oneself. The first line in section 1, “I celebrate myself and sing myself.” The persona is proud of who he is. The poem also talks about identifying other creatures and having a good relationship with nature and the universe.

The grass is a symbol of nature. It also shows us that we are all equal before God, just like the blades of grass. Whitman shows us that democracy makes us experience the world. ” Song of Myself” states freedom should put different people equally, or else it will fail its role. The poem describes many different communities coming together with different voices and uniting and becoming one who unified the community. Walt continues to say that every individual is beautiful and they have a view in whatever they say.

Living with equality among the people around us brings peace to us. Whitman does not refer “I” to see not only to himself but also to the reader who reads the poem and humanity in general. Whatever he is talking about, he is not considering himself but also all humankind. He wants them to celebrate themselves and feel proud of who they are. The poem talks about democracy indirectly through Whitman’s language and imagery. Whitman values both women and men and puts them as both equal.

Both the poets, Walt and Eliot, expresses the theme of individuality; the only difference between them is their ways of dealing with the concept, because of the different periods they lived. In ” Song of Myself,” the individual creates beauty . an individual has a unique characteristic, When different individuals come together, they become one thing when they are joined together by unity and no difference between them. Only the hearts and souls that make individuals different. Eliot is a modern poet, and during the contemporary period, individuals were isolated from society. The individual in “the love song of j.Alfred Prufrock is different from the “Song of Myself,” this individual cannot be part of society and cannot communicate with people. He is hopeless and isolated from the community. The community fails to recognize this individual, making him lonely and wishing to have someone to appreciate him.

Conclusion

Through these two poems, “Song of Myself” and “the Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock,” have a proof enough that although how difficult the journey of finding self-identity maybe we should not give up because we will be granted peace of mind which is the most important thing. We should also appreciate every person that we meet on our way.

References