Question

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. What is the effect of the word “atom” in this line and later in the poem?

Answer 1

In the poem "Song of Myself," Whitman talks about the universality of human experience. This is what he refers to when he says "for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you." In this way, the author wants to highlight how every human is as much of a human, and as real, as every other. They all have an equal right to be on Earth, to be happy, to live life, to have experiences. The author uses the word "atom" to highlight that all matter follows this rule, regardless of what it constitutes. He also uses it to explain that his conviction is so deep and his argument so all-encompassing that it even applies to the specific atoms of things.

Answer 2

It emphasizes the narrator's belief that every parcel of the Earth belongs to everyone.