Summary and Annotation
Summary
Concerning Whitman and the Rhetoric of Democracy, the author examines the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. DeLancey observes that Whitman begins his poem by appealing to the readers to embrace him. He dissects Whitman’s poem into different parts and discuss the parts systematically. DeLancey notes that Whitman couples subject and object thereby demonstrating what he refers to as the Wordsworthian rhetoric of unity. The Wordsworthian rhetoric of unity refers to a rhetorical aspect where authors’ present different things as one thing, which communicates through them to recognize each with all. Accordingly, the author perceives the adjoining of the body and soul in Whitman’s work as indicative of the Wordsworthian association with the ‘the light of common day’ and the ‘celestial light’ as they link up in the ‘intimation’ rhyme.
Accordingly, DeLancey argues that in order to achieve modernity, authors must start by showing interest to two conflicting truths. He explains his suggestion by providing the example of Whitman’s poem in light of the Wordsworthian subject. DeLancey contends that Wordsworthian subject in general replaces a new object and that the Wordsworthian substance provides the aspect of the Emersonian soul. To him, the Wordsworthian subject and the Emerson soul have similar liberating power that is all-encompassing. DeLancey concludes that the readers usually agree with the author if the latter has done justice to the both sides of the question. To him, the freedom that the poem transmits to the readers might be a risk to their experiences but the fact that the author provides a just observation makes the poem preserve its transformation into the emerging modernity.
Regarding representation and interpretation, DeLancey argues that the metaphorical aspect that urges the author to consider the two sides of a question also provokes the interpreter to appreciate both sides of the question. He opines that the interpreters acquire their experiences by referring to the suggestiveness of the text. According to the article, such experiences occur because the suggestiveness of the text provides meanings that are sufficient for the interpretations of the text. The author provides the “Song of Myself” as an example and states that the poem provides the difference between Wordsworth and Emerson’s meaning of the terms “experience” and “life”. The author concludes that such scenario puts the meaning into question. Accordingly, DeLancey observes that almost every word in the “Song of Myself” can be translated to provide different meanings based on the either the Wordsworthian or the Emersonian approach. To DeLancey, the foregoing kind of abstraction provides justification to the interpreter’s assertions that the meaning of the text is questionable and uncertain because the text alludes to a wide range of meanings. According to the article, the conclusions that arise from commonsense make the interpretation of a text to relate closely with criticism. DeLancey provides the example that an interpreter of “Song of Myself” may contend that the analyses of conventional experiences as presented by Whitman contradict with the interpretations of his community. DeLancey reiterates that the issue is not the argument of the author but the authors’ interpretation of both sides of the question that they set out to argue.
About the destiny of the text, DeLancey contends that authors must show that they understand their own arguments. He declares that authors should not question their arguments and their interpretations. To DeLancey, an argument must also suppress the likelihood of questioning its self-understanding. To ensure an argument adheres to the foregoing aspect, DeLancey suggests that it must be certain and self-evident to show that the authors appreciate their arguments as true and unquestionable.
Annotation
DeLancey, Mark. “Texts, Interpretations, and Whitman's "Song of Myself" ”. American
Literature 61(3): 1989, 359-81.
The article provides studious information regarding the manner of presenting, understanding, and interpreting texts. The author explains various approaches of presenting texts after considering both sides of the question. Throughout the text, DeLancey focuses on Whitman's “Song of Myself” poem. Accordingly, the article also provides important information regarding how authors can increase the understanding of interpreters of their texts.
Work Cited
DeLancey, Mark. “Texts, Interpretations, and Whitman's "Song of Myself" ”. American
Literature 61(3): 1989, 359-81.
