Chapter 2.1 — Invictus

‘Invictus’ was written by the English poet William Ernest Henley. It is a short Victorian poem, written in 1875 and published in 1888. In it, the poet speaks about the harsh realities of life, which are never smooth or flawless. He recognises the hard truth that everyone’s life is full of troubles, brought on by different circumstances.

Yet one should never give up. One must keep one’s willpower strong and unconquered, and must keep looking for ways to overcome life’s troubles. These waves of trouble may try to weaken a person, wound them, or even shake them to the point of horror, but what matters at such a stage is to stay strong, keep one’s head up, and fight on.

The poet describes how difficult his own life has been. He has faced many troubles under different circumstances, but has never given up, even when repeatedly battered by these hardships. Even after being beaten down by life, he still feels strong and hopeful. He acknowledges that there will be more such circumstances in the future, which he cannot prevent from happening — but the troubled years of his past have prepared him for whatever is to come.

The poet then explains that every person is the controller of their own life. Whatever problems, troubles, or circumstances life throws at him, he knows that he is the ‘captain of his soul’ and can manage his own life. Just as the captain of a ship steers it through rough waters, he feels that his life is a great ship sailing through the waves of circumstance and trouble.

He is the master of his own fate and the captain of his own soul. He is convinced that he can govern his own life and overcome every obstacle he meets.

‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley is a powerful poem about showing courage in the face of death, and the will to survive with dignity through severe hardship. The poet stresses that he alone is responsible for his actions, and that although he has been battered by fate, he has never been conquered by it. The poem follows an abab rhyme scheme, and one notable figure of speech is Personification: in the line “In the fell clutch of circumstance”, circumstance is personified and described as clutching wickedly. The poem stands out as a deeply emotional one, built on strong, striking words. Through it, the poet tells us that we must have courage and strength, and that our actions are the result of our own feelings — so we must take responsibility for everything that happens in our lives. The poem has impressed me deeply, and my favourite lines are: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” I like the poem because it contains some truly memorable lines.