Question: How does Walt Whitman express his grief over the death of the captain? How does Walt Whitman express his grief over the death of the captain
Introduction
Walt Whitman is a modern poet and poet of democracy. He is an initiative writer. As an initiative writer, his expression of grief is unique. A critical analysis of the poem “O Captain! My Captain! will prove his unique expression of grief.
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The way of expressing grief
The poem evokes a single word to the speaker’s newly deceased captain, once mourning the safe and successful return of their ship and the death of its great leader. At the first level, the speaker expresses relief that at last the ship has reached its own port and the audience is delighted. Despite the celebrations on a successful journey, the speaker reveals that his captain’s body is lying on the deck. At the second level, the speaker requests the captain to “get up and hear the bell”, but the dead leader cannot hear his calling and rejoice in the winning moment. Everyone is worried about the captain, and the speaker admits that his death has been felt like a nightmare. In the final stage, the speaker spread his feelings of sadness and pride.
Conclusion
So, now we can understand that the poet has expressed his grief in an elegiac form that is a blend of mourn, praise, consolation, and pride.
