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Invictus by William Ernest Henley: An Analysis of the Last Stanza

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Invictus by William Ernest Henley: An Analysis of the Last Stanza
Invictus Essay The last stanza of the poem “Invictus,” by William Ernest Henley is very powerful and teaches an important way on how to live life.
“It matter not how strait the gate…” In this case, “strait” means narrow, confined, or limited. In order to escape “the fell clutch of circumstance or chance,” the narrator has to go through the strait gate. “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” This means that the narrator believes he can do it because anything he puts his mind to and tries his best on, he will be victorious. I believe that this last stanza of “Invictus” relates to my leadership skills and abilities. I see myself as a person who makes mistakes and wrong decisions just like every human on Earth. However, I am slightly different. These mistakes and wrong decisions help me become a better leader and person because I do not allow them to get the best of me. I always try to keep a positive outlook. I believe that you should not make the same mistake twice; you should learn from it the first time and change your mindset. It may not be perfect, but perfection is not done right away, it takes time and experience. The last two lines really speak to me and define my leadership skills and what I do for our council. You and only you control your own fate, and where your soul leads you. Friends, family, and teachers can help guide you but they do not control your fate for you. Always welcome help, but in the end, do what you think is best. A leader does not follow, they lead and take charge. “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.”

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