“O Captain! My Captain!” as an elegy
Examine “O Captain! My Captain!” as an elegy. [NU: 2016, 19, 21] ★★★
Walt Whitman’s (1819-1892) poem “O Captain! My Captain!” (1865) is a famous elegy. It was written after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. An elegy is a poem of sorrow that mourns the death of someone great. In this poem, Whitman expresses both the victory of the Civil War and the deep grief over the death of the leader who guided the nation. Let us discuss the poem as an elegy below.
The Captain and the Ship: Whitman uses the images of a ship and captain to describe the American Civil War and the death of Abraham Lincoln. The “Captain” of the ship is Abraham Lincoln. The “fearful trip” is the Civil War, which was long, dangerous, and full of suffering. The ship has finally reached the harbor. It means the war has ended and victory has been achieved. The poet says:
“…Our fearful trip is done,
…the prize we sought is won.”
The people are happy, but the Captain lies dead on the deck. The image of the dead captain makes the poem a powerful elegy. The nation is celebrating the end of Civil War. The nation is united and slavery has ended. But Lincoln, who led the nation through the darkest time, has died. Whitman writes:
“But O heart! heart! heart!...
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.”
Here, the repetition of “heart” shows that the poet is in deep sorrow.
Shock and Disbelief: The poet is so shocked that he thinks it is a dream. He tells the captain to wake up and hear the victory bells.
“O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;”
He tells him that people are waving flags and bringing flowers to honor him. However, the captain does not answer. He lies cold and dead on the deck. The poet’s shock and disbelief show deep sorrow. It makes the poem a heart-touching elegy.
The Nation’s Joy and the Poet’s Grief: Throughout the poem, Whitman shows the contrast between public joy and personal grief. The people on the shore are happy that the ship has returned. This means the Civil War is over. The people are cheering, the bells are ringing, and flags are flying. But the poet cannot share in their happiness. The poet says that he walks on the deck mournfully where his captain lies dead.
“But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies.”
The elegy captures the bitter truth that Lincoln did not live to see the victory he made possible.
A Figure of Love and Respect: In an elegy, the poet expresses love and respect for the dead person. In this poem, Whitman shows his love and respect for Lincoln from the core of his heart. Whitman does not only see Lincoln as a leader. He calls him “dear father.” This shows his personal love and respect for the President.
“Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!”
The poet places his arm beneath the captain’s head. This image shows deep care and love. Through this language of love, the elegy becomes both personal and national. It makes Lincoln not only a political figure but also a beloved father of the people.
In conclusion, “O Captain! My Captain!” remains one of the touching elegies ever written. It mourns the death of Abraham Lincoln, the savior of the nation. The poem is not only an elegy but also a tribute to the great leader of the nation.