Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Essays - Literature

Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Essays - Literature Similarities of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson's works have numerous differences. Compared to Dickinson's short and seemingly simple poems, Whitman's are long and often complex. Yet both twentieth century writers share several similarities when delved into thoroughly. Though their approaches differ, they often deal with the same themes, and both pioneered their own unique style of writing. Using death as a theme is probably the strongest connection that Whitman and Dickinson share. Whitman's view on death is reflective of his belief in Transcendentalism. In "Song of Myself", Whitman uses the scientific principle of Thermodynamics to assert that there is life after death, because energy cannot be destroyed; only transformed. In stanza six, he writes "And what do you think has become of the women and children?/ They are alive and well somewhere,/ The smallest sprouts shows there is really no death". Whitman contends that life remains long after death, and to find him now all one must do is look "under your boot-soles". Dickinson's writings on death are more complex and paradoxical. She personifies death, generally seeing as a lord or as a compelling lover. In one of her more popular poems, "Because I could not stop for Death", death is like a kindly courter. He picks her up in a "Carriage held but just for Ourselves-/ And Immortality". Many of her other poems are about the moment of death, and what happens when the living cross over into the dead. In "I heard a Fly buzz- when I died", Dickinson tries to explain what happens at the boundary of death. She describes the experience as conflicted as she strives to define that moment with vivid images and sounds. Although Whitman and Dickinson write about death in different contexts, both seem to feel compelled to tackle the issue repeatedly. It is also apparent that neither felt intimidated about death. Whitman refers to his impending death in the final stanza of "Song of Myself". Dickinson herself wrote (to her cousins), "Little Cousins,/ Called back-/ Emily." on her deathbed. Religion is also another subject both writers struggle with, and it often ties into the death theme. During the Romantic era, previous ideals and morals were questioned. Religion was scrutinized, and often considered outdated and irrelevant. Whitman challenged the traditional idea of religion, basing his philosophy off of transcendentalism. He collapses the distinctions between the spiritual and the secular. He often puts himself in place God. For example, in "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" he implies that he can see across time. In stanza three, he directly associates himself with Jesus Christ by writing "I am with you", an echo from the Bible. Whitman frequently uses this echo technique, not only in "Crossing", but also in "Song of Myself". Stanza 19 in "Song" is parallel to the feast of the rich man in the Bible. Once again he compares himself to Jesus, inviting "the wicked just the same as the righteous". Despite the tendency of Romantics to dismiss God completely, Whitman, perhaps due to Puritan pressure, felt the need to address the larger issues of religion and God. His assertion that spirituality is found in each of us, not in some higher being is a result of his constant questioning of traditional beliefs, combined with his inability to discard all notions of morality and values. Emily Dickinson's philosophy on death was much more traditional, yet she too constantly questioned the Calvinistic beliefs she had grown up with. Her fixation on death is a fundamental part of her religious beliefs, and many of her poems focus on her anxiety over her Elect status. Many of her poems seem to question God's existence, and the importance of Him if He does exist. In one poem she seemingly makes fun of God, saying "That we had rather not with Him/ But with each other play". Yet many poems seem quite sure that He does indeed exist. This belief is emphasized by such lines as "I know that He exists", "I never spoke with God/ Nor visited in Heaven-/ Yet certain am I of the spot/ As if the Checks were given-". Like Whitman, Emily feels the need to challenge the role of religion, yet both

7 Steps to Becoming a Self-Made Millionaire

7 Steps to Becoming a Self-Made Millionaire So you want to be a millionaire, but you don’t come from money and you don’t have much to build on. It is possible, but it will take an awful lot of work. The first question you want to ask yourself is why this is important to you. The correct answer usually isn’t â€Å"I just want to be rich.† Think about what matters to you and what your dreams are, and focus on those instead of the dollar amount in your bank account.Here are a few ways you could give it a try.1. Work HarderIf you want to be a self-made miracle success story, you’re going to have to work and study a lot harder than everybody else. You’re going to have to constantly push yourself- never let yourself get complacent, stop learning, or cease seeking out new challenges. Make to-do lists and complete them. Then make new ones.2. ReadReading is the number one thing you can do to boost your chances of success. You’ll get new ideas, stay on the cutting edge of every conversati on, and generally just stay smart and sharp. Which, if you want to be a millionaire, is what you’ll need to do. Grow your knowledge and skill base as widely as possible. Develop interests and pursue those interests doggedly. Be the best at something.3. Find a MentorYou should already be surrounding yourself with successful, like-minded people. It’s great to shift your own outlook and build some momentum. But take care to single out a mentor. Yours could be a parent, teacher, career mentor, yourself, or even a character in a book. The point is to choose someone you admire, whom you can emulate and become more successful in the process.4. Don’t Waste TimeFrom now on, your time is money. Don’t invest your time in anything not worth the effort. And cut back on your television and social media intake. If you keep your YouTube video watching habits and other screen time down to an hour a day, imagine how much more you could get done.5. Be a Good PersonDonâ€⠄¢t just aim to be rich in money; aim to be rich in spirit. Tip well. Listen attentively. Give to those less fortunate than you and be sure to take time to care for your loved ones. The pursuit of success can often be a lonely one- don’t leave your family and friends behind. And be sure to give back wherever possible. Your soul is as important as your bank account.6. See the Big PictureDon’t just focus on your short-term success and set lofty goals for the year’s end. Focus on the bigger picture of how you want your life to be shaped. Keep your eye on the biggest, most motivating prize and let yourself be continually driven and inspired.7. Live FrugallyYou sometimes have to spend money to make money. But that doesn’t mean you should spend whatever you make. Try to live as humbly as possible while you amass the cash you’ll need to take yourself to the next level.