what is the philosophy of life given by the poem 'animals' ?
The poem 'Animals' juxtaposes the simple carefree nature of animals as against the greedy nature of human beings, caught up in the spiral of their excessive wants and desires. The poet, Walt Whitman observes that animals have many virtues which are lacking in men, animals never grumble about their condition, they do not thirst for material things and satisfaction with life is supreme in their being. Human beings on the other hand are seldom satisfied with anything, they are constantly cribbing about their condition and thirsting for material gains, their talk of duty towards god has nothing to do with their duty towards their fellow men. Whitman shows us how the calm, quiet and satisfied nature of animals is more appealing than the troubled and strife-torn existence of man who becomes the self-generated cause of his own worries.