by W.E. Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
If "Invictus" is not one of the most popular poems of all time, it is at least among the most well-known. Many scholars trash "Invictus" because it is very unspecific and does not clearly state what circumstance the poem is about. Frankly, this is the very reason that I love it. "Invictus" is like abstract art. The basic picture can be clearly seen, but what people make of the picture can vary drastically.
Most people recognize the theme of holding strong against adversity in "Invictus". The author, Henley struggled with arthritis throughout his life, and many believed that the poem was about his winning struggle against the affliction. Many interpret it to have a much deeper meaning and connection to their own lives. The poem was a central part of the movie "Invictus" which focused on South Africa's apartheid movement and Nelson Mandela's strength when he was imprisoned. Because the poem is non-specific to what the specific adversity the author is facing, the poem can be used in new revolutionary ways.
Also after doing some research on this poem, I became interested in the Christian message behind the poem. "how strait the gate" and "charged with punishment the scroll" are direct references to biblical scripture. One could see this reference to mean that the author is holding strong against death or fear of death. Or, perhaps more morbidly, it may mean that the author is giving into death. They are "the captain of their soul" and therefore cannot be spiritually harmed by physical torment ("bloody but unbowed") that happens on earth. There are so many ways to look at this poem. Whichever way one looks at it, it is a poem of great strength and passion. Memorize it and recite it in your head when you are facing hardship or find yourself not being able to stand up for yourself. It helps.
Invictus translates to "Unconquerable"
I appreciate your ability to see meaning in the abstract such as this; it is something I aspire to. Even so, my experience with literature, poetry in particular, has taught me that to much of either the factual or the abstract can make meaning either obscure or non-existent. This poem stands on the border of lots of meaning and none at all. My poem for the poetry assignment, Lenore, had a far more abstract original 1831 version than its final version in 1845. After reading both of them, the final version had more meaning for me due to the clear story line that it established and its increased relatability. I would be curious to see such a revision that establishes more fact in "Invictus", such a well-known poem.
ReplyDeleteI actually appreciate this poem, despite its abstractness. I like the idea of being "the captain of my own soul". It's especially interesting because it was supposedly written about the South African apartheid. Henley has such a spiritually significant take on such a painful time.
ReplyDeleteThough I have to say, one of my favorite aspects of the poem is the rhyme structure. Even though it is slightly obscure in meaning, it at leasts holds a familiar structure. Plus it makes it catchier.
Just curious, did you really memorize it???
Yeah I did! I started quoting it at Tyler during carpool when he was complaining about poetry :)
ReplyDelete