How does Whitman give equal importance to both body and soul in ‘Song of Myself’? 

Answer

How does Whitman give equal importance to both body and soul in “Song of Myself?”

Walt Whitman (1819–1892) celebrates both body and soul in “Song of Myself” (1855). He believes that man is not only spiritual but also physical. Both parts are pure, holy, and necessary. He rejects old ideas that treated the body as sinful. For him, the body is the doorway to the divine. Through it, the soul feels beauty, love, and truth.

Equal Holiness of Body and Soul: Whitman finds no difference between the body and soul. He says, 

“Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.” 

This shows that both are clean and divine. The body is not low or impure. It is the visible form of the invisible soul. Through body and senses, man can touch spiritual truth.

Body as the Way to the Soul: Whitman believes that man can feel God through the body. The senses help him realize the unseen spirit. He glorifies his body and calls it “electrical,” strong, and clean. Every organ of the body is sacred. The body helps man understand divine joy. Thus, he reaches mystical experience through the senses.

Inverted Mysticism: Unlike traditional saints, Whitman does not reject physical life. He loves the earth, the touch, and the human form. Critic James Miller calls this “inverted mysticism.” Whitman finds holiness not in escape but in living fully. He reaches the divine through natural feeling, not through denial.

In final, Whitman gives equal honor to body and soul. Both are clear, sweet, and divine. Through this unity, he reaches a higher spiritual truth. His vision turns human life into a perfect blend of spirit and flesh.