Analysis of "As Adam Early in the Morning"

Walt Whitman’s poem “As Adam Early in the Morning” shows many of the characteristics that Whitman used in his poetry. He uses a simple free verse style to talk about Christianity, with Adam from the Garden of Eden as the focus, the concept of the Everyman, and sensuality being one of the important parts of life. Though very short in length being only one stanza, this poem is still able to capture the image that Whitman was trying to share with no lack in passion and emotion. The most popular characteristics of literature by the great American poet can be seen in this work “As Adam Early in the Morning.”

This poem is written in free verse as many of Whitman’s other poems were written. Rather than using a complicated rhyme scheme to create the artistic sense of the poem, Whitman seems to read the poem as if in a conversation. The passion is still strong in this work though with the topic of human sensuality, sexuality, and love.

Sexuality is a common theme that appears in this section of Leaves of Grass. Whitman addresses the sensuality of man as being one of the most important driving forces for good in the world (Oliver). The final line of the poem that reads “Touch me, touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass, be not afraid of my body” displays this passion for human sensuality that Whitman used in this section (Whitman).

Along with human sensuality, Christianity is a common theme that appears all of the works by Whitman. The literal interpretation of this poem leads the reader to think directly of Adam in the Garden and the title character is named Adam (Whitman). There is another way to see this poem though, because in one of the lines, the character says “behold me (Whitman).” Although this is something that an average human like Adam could say, it is more like something that God would say rather than an innocent person (Huff). This interpretation would drastically change the meaning of the last line of the poem, because rather than be physically touching a person, it would be more significant of meaning taking in God. “Be not afraid of my body” could very well mean to not fear God, but to take him in and be comfortable with him.

The concept of Everyman that Whitman used many times in his works can be seen, if Adam is considered a generic person. Instead of being Adam in the Garden of Eden, he could represent all of the people of the Earth that are supposed to be taking God into their lives. What better representation of a generic person could there be than the person that all men and women in the world come from in the beliefs of Christianity.

Whitman’s work of “As Adam Early in the Morning” shows many of the characteristics that are common in Leaves of Grass. The free verse poem addresses the sexuality and sensuality of man and the Everyman, as represented by Adam. In the literal interpretation, there are the obvious references to Christianity with Adam in the Garden of Eden. All of these characteristics are representative of the great poet that is Walt Whitman.


Works Cited

Huff, Randall. "'As Adam Early in the Morning'." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CPAP0028&SingleRecord=True. March 3, 2011.

Oliver, Charles M. "'As Adam Early in the Morning'." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCWW026&SingleRecord=True. March 3, 2011.

Whitman, Walt. "As Adam Early in the Morning" for Leaves of Grass. The Walt Whitman Archive. Online. http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/. March 3, 2011.