Walt Whitman's poem "The Sleepers" is a complex tapestry weaving together surrealistic imagery and a structured narrative. The poem unfolds a mythic journey through the thematic stages of initiation, death, and rebirth. This narrative arc can be traced through three distinct sections, where the persona navigates the symbolic terrain of dreams and reality.

The Journey Begins: Identification with the Sleepers

In the opening portion of "The Sleepers," the speaker embarks on a nocturnal voyage, encountering a diverse array of individuals as they slumber—ranging from a married couple to a prisoner, and more. This tapestry of sleepers is enveloped by the night, which pulses with a mystic essence akin to Emerson's Oversoul. As the speaker pierces the darkness, he undergoes a mystical initiation, joining a bacchanalian dance with divine spirits. This transformative experience allows him to merge with the people he observes, dreaming alongside them. Such mystic unity mirrors the key theme central to Whitman's "Song of Myself."

Confronting Human Suffering

Part 2 of the poem delves into the harsh and painful aspects of human existence through a series of disconnected visions. The first vision paints the image of a handsome, nude swimmer, tragically swept away by a deadly tide, culminating in a shipwreck where rescue efforts fail. The second vision transports the speaker back to 1776, during General George Washington's defeat at Brooklyn Heights. Here, Washington is depicted both in moments of sorrow and in jubilation upon the declaration of peace. The third vision recalls a memory from the speaker's youth, where an Indian woman, warmly greeted by his mother, departs the family homestead, leaving a lingering sense of loss and nostalgia.

Symbolism and Omitted Lines

The encounter with the Indian woman may symbolize the fading of a bygone era characterized by sincere and generous social interactions. In the initial draft of "The Sleepers," the speaker experiences psychic turmoil, underscored by omitted lines like "Now Lucifer was not dead . . . or if he was I am his sorrowful heir." These lines, later removed from the version published in Leaves of Grass in 1871, suggest a moment of existential despair and disintegration.

Rebirth and Unity

Part 3 heralds a transformation, ushering in an atmosphere replete with images of sunlight, air, and the abundant vitality of nature. Travelers from around the world—including the lost swimmer and the Indian woman—journey back to their homelands, restored and renewed by the embrace of sleep and night. This return signifies a newfound equality, peace, and beauty, revealing the speaker's realization of the true, harmonious nature of existence.

Transcendental Unity and Conclusion

In the poem's closing section, the persona envisions a night of transcendental unity. As sleepers rest, a symbolic procession of humanity emerges, with people of all nations interlinked "hand in hand over the whole earth from east to west as they lie unclothed." This grand chain includes all walks of life—learned and unlearned, familial pairs, and educators and scholars alike. Those once afflicted are now healed, and the poem culminates with the speaker's serene acceptance of both the conscious day and the nurturing, regenerative power of the night, which he views as akin to an earth mother.