The central theme is loss, or grief. The Captain lies dead after bringing his ship into port after a dangerous journey; he succeeded at his most dangerous task, his life was lost, and his crew mourns.
This is about Abraham Lincoln. After his death, he had become a legendary figure for winning a brutal Civil War and dying at an assassin's hand, both unprecedented events in American history. It's an extended metaphor; the ship is America, the Captain is Lincoln and the rough seas are the war (the central event in the life of Whitman and most of his contemporary countrymen).
Lincoln was not particularly revered during his lifetime, but after his assassination, he and his accomplishments attained a mythical status. America's next two assassinated presidents, Garfield and McKinley, received an almost blasé regard by comparison.
The poem is frequently read aloud at funerals.
No comments:
Post a Comment