He Invictus poem , Is well known today because the South African leader Nelson Mandela , Had it written on a piece of paper while imprisoned for 27 years in Robben Island Prison.
Due to the popularity of the film, people think that this piece of poetry was written by Mandela, however it was written by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) while in a hospital for tuberculosis. He had contracted the disease when he was very young and before finishing the poem, his leg had been amputated to save his life.
Written in 1875, when Henley was 27 years old, it was not published until thirteen years later - 1888 - in his first book of poems, Book of Verses, where it is the fourth poem in the section"Life and Death". Originally untitled and contained a dedication to R. T. H. B., referring to Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce, a successful merchant escoses and literary patrons.
Immediately it was a popular poem. His inspiring message was frequently displayed in poetic anthologies and was recited and memorized in schools until the late 1960s. The word Invictus means invincible or unbeaten Latin and the poem is about courage in the presence of death, courage and On dignity.
You may also like These phrases from Nelson Mandela .
Poem in Spanish
Beyond the night that covers me,
Black as the unfathomable abyss,
I thank the god that was
For my unconquerable soul.
In the grip of circumstances
I have not moaned nor cried.
Subjected to the blows of fate
My head is bleeding, but it is erect.
Beyond this place of anger and cries
Where lies the horror of the shadow,
The threat of the years
He finds me, and he will find me without fear.
No matter how narrow the road,
Nor how charged with punishments the sentence,
I am the owner of my destiny,
I am the captain of my soul.
In English
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.
Analysis
In the first stanza, the author prays in the darkness to the god that may exist, to give thanks for the strength of his soul. Here are a few things that seem obvious: that the person is faced with a"personal darkness"or despair and second, that despite this desperation, feels strong and therefore thanks.
In the second stanza, the author continues to refer to courage. He speaks that despite the negative circumstances, he has not let himself down and that although fate has not given him the best, he kept straight and without complaining.
The third verse deals with death and its lack of fear before it. He conveys that despite the anger and tears, circumstances have not been able to with him.
In the fourth stanza it summarizes the main theme of the poem: that no matter the circumstances, how hard the road and the negative events that occur. The author will always be the one who guides his path:"the master of his destiny"and"the captain of his soul".
About the Author
Invictus assured that Henley would become an important literary figure of the Victorian age , However due to the enormous popularity of this poem, he has largely forgotten his other work. And it is that, Henley, was an innfluyente critic, journalist and poet. He was also a playwright, although not very successful.
He began working as a journalist, but his career was interrupted by his illness and duty to go to the hospital. Tuberculosis, which he contracted at age 13, had spread through his left leg and was amputated to save his life. The other leg was saved thanks to the surgeon's innovative treatment Joseph Lister .
Curiosities and influence
- Henley had a great friendship with the novelist and also a poet Robert Louis Stevenson , Whose character Long John Silver The island of the treasure , Was inspired by Henley.
- Mandela was from 1962 to 1980 in Robben Island Prison, a time he spent to educate himself and others to prepare to fight against apartheid and establish equality in South Africa. In addition, at that time he studied at a distance from the University of London.
- Morgan Freeman commented in an interview:"That poem was his favorite. When he lost courage, when he felt he was going to give up, he would recite it. And it gave him what he needed to move on."
- In 1942 in the movie Casablanca, Captain Renault, an officer played by Claude Rains, recited the last two lines of the poem when speaking to Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart.
- In the 1042 film Kings Row, a psychiatrist played by Robert Cummings, recited the last two stanzas of the poem to his friend Drake McHugh, played by Ronald Reagan, before revealing to Drake that a doctor had imputed his leg unnecessarily.
- It was one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's favorite poems.
- Nelson Mandela recited it to other prisoners while imprisoned on Robben Island. The movie Invictus , Mandela gives it to the captain of the South African rugby team to inspire his team to win the World Cup. However, he actually gave"The Man in the Arena", a passage from Theodore Roosevelt's"Citizenship in the Republic"speech.
- Named by Barack Obama at the end of his speech at the event to remember Mandela on December 10, 2013.
- Henley's little daughter, named Margaret, was a friend of J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan. The author called her"fwendy-wendy", resulting in the use of"Wendy"in the book. Unfortunately, Margaret died at the age of five.
What does the poem convey to you? Inspiration? Drammatism?