The first stanza is about God. In the first stanza, the speaker states that he is Jehovah, but also says that he is Brahm, Saturnius, and Kronos. These are gods from different kinds of mythology. Whitman uses these specific gods because they all have specific jobs that are related to each other. Each of these gods are relentless. That is the reason that he used these gods specifically. The God that is the speaker in the first stanza describes himself as "relentless". "I expense from this side judgments inexorable without the least remorse." (Whitman). The God that is the speaker in the first stanza says that he does not feel bad for the judgments that he casts onto people. He also says, "Therefore let none expect mercy" (Whitman). This God is different than what you would normally think of the Christian God as because the Christian God is merciful and forgiving.
The speaker of the second stanza is Christ. This side of God is a much more caring and comforting God. he describes himself as "Consolator most mild" (Whitman) and "with gentler hand extended" (Whitman). This is the softer side of God that is nicer and more calm. Christ is kind to everyone, not just specific types of people. "Wending my way through the homes of men, rich or poor, with the kiss of affection". Christ is affectionate towards all people. This side of God also like weaker than the first one, but is described as more mighty, which is a contradiction. "Many times have I been rejected, taunted, put in prison, and crucified, and many times shall be again" (Whitman). This makes Christ seem weak, because he is ridiculed and overpowered by mortal people. In another part of the poem however, Christ describes himself as "The mightier God am I". These two lines show that while Christ is very mighty, he is also humble because he can take the taunting from those who are clearly weaker than he.
The third stanza is from the point of view of Satan. Satan is much different from the previous sides of the square. Satan is evil. "Aloof, dissatisfied, plotting revolt, Comrade of criminals... Crafty, despised, a drudge, ignorant" (Whitman). Although Satan is evil, he has a kind of a soft spot for the "downtrodden" (Oliver). In the third stanza, Satan describes himself as "brother of slaves". This shows that he has a kind of respect for people who have had a hard time. Satan is as opposite from Christ as he can be. This shows that Whitman believed that their needed to be a balance between good and evil (Oliver). Satan describes himself as "permanent" saying that "nor time nor change shall ever change me of my words" (Oliver).
The speaker of the last stanza is Santa Spirita, or the Soul. The Soul is a collection of all three other sides of the square. It is "Including all life on earth, touching, including God, including Saviour and Satan." (Whitman). The Soul unifies all the other sides of the square and is in everything. "pervading all, (for without me what were all?)" (Whitman). Santa Spirita is in everything. It is the "general soul" and is all life. "Life of the great round world, the sun and stars, and of man, I, the general soul" (Whitman). The Soul completes the square tying everything together and unifying all parts of the square deific.
Whitman used a very specific technique to write this poem. He chose to use one stanza per each side of the square to make everything flow better and much easier to understand. His idea of God being a quaternity instead of a trinity was very creative and it was interesting to see how all the different sides tied together and balanced each other out.
Bibliography
Whitman, Walt. "The Walt Whitman Archive." Chanting The Square Deific. (Leaves of Grass [1891-1892]) -. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. <http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1891/poems/247>.
Oliver, Charles M. "'Chanting the Square Deific'." 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= CCWW082&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 4, 2012).
The speaker of the second stanza is Christ. This side of God is a much more caring and comforting God. he describes himself as "Consolator most mild" (Whitman) and "with gentler hand extended" (Whitman). This is the softer side of God that is nicer and more calm. Christ is kind to everyone, not just specific types of people. "Wending my way through the homes of men, rich or poor, with the kiss of affection". Christ is affectionate towards all people. This side of God also like weaker than the first one, but is described as more mighty, which is a contradiction. "Many times have I been rejected, taunted, put in prison, and crucified, and many times shall be again" (Whitman). This makes Christ seem weak, because he is ridiculed and overpowered by mortal people. In another part of the poem however, Christ describes himself as "The mightier God am I". These two lines show that while Christ is very mighty, he is also humble because he can take the taunting from those who are clearly weaker than he.
The third stanza is from the point of view of Satan. Satan is much different from the previous sides of the square. Satan is evil. "Aloof, dissatisfied, plotting revolt, Comrade of criminals... Crafty, despised, a drudge, ignorant" (Whitman). Although Satan is evil, he has a kind of a soft spot for the "downtrodden" (Oliver). In the third stanza, Satan describes himself as "brother of slaves". This shows that he has a kind of respect for people who have had a hard time. Satan is as opposite from Christ as he can be. This shows that Whitman believed that their needed to be a balance between good and evil (Oliver). Satan describes himself as "permanent" saying that "nor time nor change shall ever change me of my words" (Oliver).
The speaker of the last stanza is Santa Spirita, or the Soul. The Soul is a collection of all three other sides of the square. It is "Including all life on earth, touching, including God, including Saviour and Satan." (Whitman). The Soul unifies all the other sides of the square and is in everything. "pervading all, (for without me what were all?)" (Whitman). Santa Spirita is in everything. It is the "general soul" and is all life. "Life of the great round world, the sun and stars, and of man, I, the general soul" (Whitman). The Soul completes the square tying everything together and unifying all parts of the square deific.
Whitman used a very specific technique to write this poem. He chose to use one stanza per each side of the square to make everything flow better and much easier to understand. His idea of God being a quaternity instead of a trinity was very creative and it was interesting to see how all the different sides tied together and balanced each other out.
Bibliography
Whitman, Walt. "The Walt Whitman Archive." Chanting The Square Deific. (Leaves of Grass [1891-1892]) -. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. <http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1891/poems/247>.
Oliver, Charles M. "'Chanting the Square Deific'." 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= CCWW082&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 4, 2012).
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