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Essay / Poem by Walt Whitman, O Captain, My Captain; a look at the death of one of America's heroes
A great leader is one who inspires motivation in the hearts of his followers. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest and worst wars in world history, because it is not defined by the number of deaths, but because members of a family were simply fighting each other because they believed in different things. The assassination of the leader who won the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, had an impact on many people who followed him. This short poem by Walt Whitman is dedicated to the death of one of America's greatest leaders. Many readers can relate to this poem because everyone has experienced the death of someone close to them or someone they admire. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayWalt Whitman came from a modest family and loved and wrote poetry most of his life, but he was not as popular until the Civil War. Whitman's most famous poem "O Captain my Captain" was part of his influence in the Civil War. "Later in 1862, Whitman went to Fredericksburg to search for his brother George, who was fighting for the Union and was being treated there for an injury he had suffered. Whitman moved to Washington, D.C. the following year and found work part-time in the paymaster's office, spending much of the rest of his time visiting wounded soldiers” (Editors, 2016). the union during the American Civil War The fight between the North and South for the freedom of slaves for economic reasons led to the hatred of President Lincoln by many, leading to his death. All that is great must take. end. The first stanza, exciting but controversial, begins with joy, as in people clapping and jumping with enthusiasm for winning a battle or a war Happy and excited because after a long time, they are returning home. The ship's journey is compared to this entire period of war, also calling the ship a "sinister and daring ship", which explains why they returned strong and powerful. Then, the sailors of the ship realize that their captain died right after “But O heart! heart! heart!" which emphasizes the poet's grief over the death of his captain. Screams and tears were on the deck, where the captain "fell cold and dead." The immediate change in mood of the poem is what makes it breathtaking. Winning is a great feeling when accomplished as a group. The people who followed Captain Abraham on this long journey applaud and sing their accomplishment. Yet they do not know that the captain is dead. The cries of those who know, especially Whitman's, telling the dead to rise and look at what he has done for many of them: "The poet refers to the fallen captain as 'father,' representing his deep respect for President Lincoln and Lincoln's role as the Father of the Union” (Lorcher, 2015); The author compares their captain to their father to give the whole poem a more personal and profound manner. to understand how the captain's death feels. The melancholy mood that the author displays after having fought a hard fight and won, without being able to see the result of the sweat, blood and lives taken from his people, bears fruit. Going through life's challenges is what makes a person or a country grow. The understanding Whitman gives in this last stanza is that even though something may hurt, life goes on. "But I, with a sad step,.