Leaves of Grass · Chapter
Chapter 51 explained
The speaker reflects on having filled and emptied the past and present, now turning to the future.
What happens
The speaker reflects on having filled and emptied the past and present, now turning to the future. He invites a listener to confide in him honestly, acknowledges his own contradictions as a sign of containing multitudes, and calls for a companion to walk with him before time runs out.
Themes in this chapter
Individuality and Self
The speaker asserts his large, multitudinous self, embracing contradictions as part of his identity.
Comradeship and Love
The invitation to walk together and the intimate call for a confidant reflect a desire for companionship.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
If I seem inconsistent, so be it; I am vast and encompass many aspects.
The speaker embraces his own contradictions as a sign of his expansive nature.
“Who wishes to walk with me? Will you speak before I am gone? will you prove already too late?”
Who wants to join me on this journey? Speak now before I leave, or you may miss your chance.
A call for a companion to join the speaker on the open road before time runs out.