This poem was written by Walt Whiltman in 1865.

He is an American poet, school teacher,

journalist, and essayist. He was born in May 31, 1819 at West Hills, New York. He died in March
26, 1892 (aged 72) at Camden, New Jersey. In 1865, he became a clerk in the Department of
Interior. So, basically he worked in the government of America. He worked as a medic during
civil war to give some medical assisstance to the wounded soldiers.

In first line of the poem there are apostrophized words "O Captain, My Captain" which make it
the highlights of the poem. If we hear the word captain the first thing that come up to our mind
is it is high official or high profile person that gives commands. The question is who was the
captain being refered by the author in the poem?. When we look to the cultural background of
the text and the author, the text itself was first published in 1865 in a pamphlet named Sequel
to Drum-Taps in America. Now, if go back to the historical background of America in this time, it
was still included to the time span of Civil War. In 1865, April 14 the 16th president of America
Abrahan Lincoln was assassinated at Ford' Theatre in Washington. So, if we'll look at this
episteme the word "Captain" mentioned eight times in the poem represents the president of
America. Moreover, the word "voyage" symbolizes the Civil War and the "ship" symbolizes
America itself. So, if we put up all these ideas, by interpreting this poem. It can give us three
important points. The image of civil war in America in the first line "fearful trip" and "weather'd
every rack" in second line. It signify the trials and tests happened during the war. These two
lines give us the picture how ironic civil war is. Next point is the death of president Abraham
Lincoln as mentioned " fallen cold and dead" , "Lips are pale and still" and "no pulse nor will".
These three lines clearly mean death. Finally, the line "Exult O shores, and ring O bells!" the
author personifies the shores as if human that can blow the trumpet and the ring of bells which
are signs of victory.

In the first stanza, the speaker is calling his captain with all the respect and salutation that they
won the war together. "The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting" in this line, the
speaker is like reporting to captain about the great happiness felt by the Americans because of
thier victory against civil war. The speaker wants the captain to see the people shouting and
celebrating for their democracy return. "But O heart! heart! heart!" Starting in this line of the
first stanza, the tone of the speaker was changed. There's something happen to the captain and
it was stated in the next three lines "O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain
lies,Fallen cold and dead". The captain was dead while everyone is celebrating the victory.
In the second stanza of the poem, the speaker is trying to rise up the captain from being fallen.
It was stated in the first line of second stanza "rise up and hear the bells". Speaker wants the
captain to witness the flag raising that signifies victory. For the following lines, the speaker is like
speaking over the dead body of the captain saying that "It is some dream that on the deck" it
means the victory that they are celebrating was just some of the dreams of captain to bring
back to his country. Dreams that lead to his death just to give the independence for his beloved
country.

In the third stanza of the poem, Whitman continue to be solemn in the death of the president in
his first two lines. His tone is like confirming the president's dead body. Moreover, he uses
powerful words that surely readers will visualize the ironic death of president. That makes the
reader emotional. The whole poem expresses sorrow for death of president Ambraham Lincoln.

In conlusion for this analysis, Whitman uses his free verse style of writing to express his respect and give
honor to the tragic death of president. In his lines, he was very emotional like he can't believe what
happened. He was emotional that they celebrate independence without the main person who dreamed
to have it in his country. This poem also gives us background on what was happened in America during
civil war. Whitman uses some powerful words so that the reader can picture out the fun celebration over
the harsh experience of the Americans in war. In addition, the poem gives the reader when and how
America commits it indepence to become United States.