Invictus

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. - -

My Interpretation:

The poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley talks about a strong admiration of hope and unconquerable belief--a belief to conquer the insurmountable pain and frustrations or a belief to survive from the most billowing fate of tears and agony. Such as these, the poem depicts how the persona in the bludgeoning chance remains unstaggered and unbowed.

However, the poem for some other points of view breaks the code of Christian belief or tenets. Christians believe in one true God. Yet, in the poem Invictus, I have no idea why Henley mentions the term "gods" that in this referrent, it talks about many earthly gods. He may aim at reviving the paganistic tradition to have believed many gods or goddesses. Another instance is that, the poem reveals the inaccuracy in defining the Almighty Father. Almighty Father is the only one source of everything. On one hand, Henley might think of the minor dieties--earthly spirits or elements or even the supernatural forces beyond ones' grasps that could help him carry his yolk of sacrifice. perchance, as he mentions the term "gods", he gives up believing the real creator and submits himself to the gods he believes in.

But, whatever his purpose of presenting his poem, he succeeds to persuade the importance and values of moving forward. This is the core or the common denominator of all--to continue life amidst superflous life's wreckage. Actually, the poem Invictus, as I interpreted it, presents the identity of Henly and the persona. The persona as identified in the poem is disabled. Henley is a crippled man and is hardly able to do certain task for his burden. Instead, the perosna from within grows and develops unconquerable soul in order to survive--for whatever means.

Moreover, the persona of the poem speaks optimistically to what people think and believe today, and hoping for miracle is the best thing to do. Like I said, it is the way to conquer the miserable life. It is such a right time to strengthen one's soul about hope. To total, the poem "Invictus" succeeds in persuading the importance of pursuing life and moving forward amidst tribulation. This is the very focus of the poem and nothing more.