What is the background of the poem “O Captain! My Captain!?”
O Captain! My Captain! is a notable literary work by Walt Whitman. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of O Captain! My Captain!.
Answer
What is the background of the poem “O Captain! My Captain!?” [NU: 2016, 20, 22] ★★★
“O Captain! My Captain!” (1865) is a famous elegy by Walt Whitman (1819-1892). It was written to mourn the death of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of America. The poem is based on the historical event of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, just after the victory in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Let us discuss the background of the poem below.
Historical Background: “O Captain! My Captain!” was first published in 1865, soon after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. At that time, America had just gone through the terrible Civil War (1861–1865). Lincoln led the Union to victory in the war. The war ended slavery. When the war ended, people were hopeful about peace. But suddenly their joy was broken by the murder of the president, Abraham Lincoln.
On April 14th, 1865, Lincoln was shot by a well-known actor and negrophobe John Wilkes Booth, at Ford’s Theatre. Lincoln died the next morning. Abraham Lincoln was not only a political leader, but also a symbol of freedom, democracy, and humanity.
Symbolic Meaning: So, “O Captain! My Captain!” is a symbolic poem. Here, the captain is the symbol Abraham Lincoln. The ship represents America. The “fearful trip” is the American Civil War (1861-1865).
“O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done.”
The captain of the ship lies dead on the deck after safely guiding the ship to the shore. This is the death of Lincoln after the victory in the Civil War. For Whitman, Lincoln was like a savior who guided the nation during its darkest time. That is why the poet calls him the “Captain” of the ship.
In fine, the background of the poem is deeply connected with American history: the victory in the Civil War and the loss of the nation’s great leader, Abraham Lincoln.