Who Is Henley's Invictus?
“Invictus" is a lyric poem. William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) wrote it in 1875. It was not published until 1892. The title “Invictus” is Latin for unconquerable. Henley dedicated the poem to Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce (1846-1899), a Scottish flour merchant. “Invictus” is a poem about an unconquerable soul and is inspiring, it was praised and ridiculed, and today it has become a poem of motivation and a source of inspiration. Henley way born in Gloucester, England He was a poet, critic, and editor. Henley went to school at Crypt Grammar School. At 12 years old Henley was diagnosed with tubercular arthritis that required the amputation of one of his legs just below the knee. The other foot was saved through a radical surgery. When he was healing in the infirmary he
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wrote poems, including “Invictus.” He survived with one foot intact and lived an active life until his death at the age of 53. Henley was close friends with Robert Louis Stevenson, who based his Long John Silver character in Treasure Island on Henley. “Invictus was written during the Victorian era (1830-1901). The Victorian era was a period of dramatic change that brought England to its highest point of development. When Victoria came to the throne there was a population of two million people then changed to six and a half million by the time of Victoria's death. England experienced a huge increase in wealth. The end of the Victorian era (1870–1901) a variety of socialist movements increased force, some influenced by the revolutionary theories. The literature of the 1890s is characterized by self-conscious melancholy and aestheticism. Women were denied the right to vote. By the end of Victoria’s reign, women could get degrees at twelve universities. There were working-class women labored at factory jobs under awful conditions, and some women were pushed into prostitution. “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.” Darkness is disguised as a despair and there is no way out. He is praying to the gods but is not sure if there are any gods by saying 'whatever gods may be'. He doesn't ask for strength to deal with the crisis. He thanks them for the strength and life he already has. His invincible soul. “In the fell clutch of circumstance. I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning’s of chance. My head is bloody, but unbowed.” This continues to tell a story of a courageous soul that never complained once. “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.” He is saying that all of the suffering and pain has prepared him for what the future holds. “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.” He is his own master. Only he can decide his fate. Henley had numerous collections of poetry that include “A Book of Verses” (1888), “Hawthorn and Lavender” (1899), and “London Voluntaries” (1893). The poem “Invictus” is what gave Henley his name and his fame, but not everyone loved it when it was published.
"Invictus" appears in respected collections, including Modern British Poetry (New York, Harcourt, 1920). Poetry enthusiasts did not respect it as inspiring work. Many critics ridicule the poem as mediocre, and most modern anthologies refuse to admit it to their pages. One reason for the critic’s cold shoulders is the poem's melodramatic tone. Another reason is its singsong versification. Aside from critics, multiple people were inspired by Henley’s words. While imprisoned at Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message. Mandela was in prison for 27 years. While he was in prison he got tuberculosis. After being imprisoned he became South Africa's president and led his nation peacefully.
“Invictus” is strongly used in today’s society, in movies, television, and speeches.
In 2009 a movie was released with the title Invictus. The movie stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. On February 11, 1990 Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of being imprisoned in Robben Island. In 1994, he is elected President of South Africa. It is about the story of how Nelson Mandela, the president of South Africa, joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. The movie ends with Morgan Freeman reciting Mandela’s favorite poem, “Invictus”. The first time I ever heard this poem was on an episode of One Tree Hill my sophomore year. Lucas Scott, the main character in one tree hill quotes the poem in episode six of season three. In the episode he finds out he has a congenital heart condition. He is told that he could never play basketball again but he pushes through it for the love of the sport. The final scene is of Lucas Scott doing suicides in the school gym. As he is doing suicides, there is a voice over of him reciting Henley’s poem. The poem show that Lucas is unconquerable by not giving up on basketball even though a doctor told him he wouldn’t be able
to.
wrote poems, including “Invictus.” He survived with one foot intact and lived an active life until his death at the age of 53. Henley was close friends with Robert Louis Stevenson, who based his Long John Silver character in Treasure Island on Henley. “Invictus was written during the Victorian era (1830-1901). The Victorian era was a period of dramatic change that brought England to its highest point of development. When Victoria came to the throne there was a population of two million people then changed to six and a half million by the time of Victoria's death. England experienced a huge increase in wealth. The end of the Victorian era (1870–1901) a variety of socialist movements increased force, some influenced by the revolutionary theories. The literature of the 1890s is characterized by self-conscious melancholy and aestheticism. Women were denied the right to vote. By the end of Victoria’s reign, women could get degrees at twelve universities. There were working-class women labored at factory jobs under awful conditions, and some women were pushed into prostitution. “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.” Darkness is disguised as a despair and there is no way out. He is praying to the gods but is not sure if there are any gods by saying 'whatever gods may be'. He doesn't ask for strength to deal with the crisis. He thanks them for the strength and life he already has. His invincible soul. “In the fell clutch of circumstance. I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning’s of chance. My head is bloody, but unbowed.” This continues to tell a story of a courageous soul that never complained once. “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.” He is saying that all of the suffering and pain has prepared him for what the future holds. “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.” He is his own master. Only he can decide his fate. Henley had numerous collections of poetry that include “A Book of Verses” (1888), “Hawthorn and Lavender” (1899), and “London Voluntaries” (1893). The poem “Invictus” is what gave Henley his name and his fame, but not everyone loved it when it was published.
"Invictus" appears in respected collections, including Modern British Poetry (New York, Harcourt, 1920). Poetry enthusiasts did not respect it as inspiring work. Many critics ridicule the poem as mediocre, and most modern anthologies refuse to admit it to their pages. One reason for the critic’s cold shoulders is the poem's melodramatic tone. Another reason is its singsong versification. Aside from critics, multiple people were inspired by Henley’s words. While imprisoned at Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message. Mandela was in prison for 27 years. While he was in prison he got tuberculosis. After being imprisoned he became South Africa's president and led his nation peacefully.
“Invictus” is strongly used in today’s society, in movies, television, and speeches.
In 2009 a movie was released with the title Invictus. The movie stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. On February 11, 1990 Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of being imprisoned in Robben Island. In 1994, he is elected President of South Africa. It is about the story of how Nelson Mandela, the president of South Africa, joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. The movie ends with Morgan Freeman reciting Mandela’s favorite poem, “Invictus”. The first time I ever heard this poem was on an episode of One Tree Hill my sophomore year. Lucas Scott, the main character in one tree hill quotes the poem in episode six of season three. In the episode he finds out he has a congenital heart condition. He is told that he could never play basketball again but he pushes through it for the love of the sport. The final scene is of Lucas Scott doing suicides in the school gym. As he is doing suicides, there is a voice over of him reciting Henley’s poem. The poem show that Lucas is unconquerable by not giving up on basketball even though a doctor told him he wouldn’t be able
to.