O Captian! My Captian

“O Captain! My Captain” The ability to move a great people is a virtue lacked by many leaders. Mourning the death of such a leader is an even great task. Abraham Lincoln was an exception. In “O Captain! My Captain”, Walt Whitman metaphorically uses the image of a Captain to depict the respect, loyalty and love he and his countrymen felt for Abraham Lincoln. For a “Captain” to lead his “crew”, he must have the …

…ring, O bells!” these are strong words, empowering words. Expressions that should be felt if a leader was great. If a follower feels moved by a dead leader and feels as if he should continue on that leader’s quest, than the leader has done a successful job. Whitman accepts Lincoln’s death with dignity and sympathy for the nation. He uses sadness and happiness together gracefully while never losing the seriousness of the matter.