Invictus
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.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
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.
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.
Invictus is a story of rugby team
of South Africa playing the world cup on its soil. Against the background is
the transition of power from whites to blacks. The shadow of apartheid looming
large. The atmosphere is full of revenge, suspicion, scorn. But President
Nelson Mandela with legendary leadership handles it with courage, determination
and statesmanship. He is on a mission of nation building in its difficult times.
He is doing it with acceptance, assimilation, reposing faith in blacks as well
as whites. The captain of the team, comprised mainly of white players, meets
president. President talks about inspiring players to do beyond expectations. A
brilliant and inspiring movie. In the movie comes the reference of a poem
Invictus. Not being a student of literature means obviously being deprived of
study of classics. I never came across this poem till I watched the movie.
Mandela spent 27 years in imprisonment. In
the dark hours of depression when he was on the boundary of losing hope he
sought inspiration in this poem. He was in jail fighting for justice. The
meaning of Invictus is unconquerable, undefeated. Written by William Henley
more than a hundred years ago is still relevant because it challenges fate and
talks about becoming the master of it. In the darkness, signifying despair with
no sign of light of hope the poet thanks whatever gods may be for his
unconquerable soul. He claims that he has not cried under the grip of cruel
circumstances nor has he bowed down when hit hard by situation beyond his
control. In the shadow of despair, in the years of unrelenting pain he stands
with strength unafraid.
Though he understands, the path to
get out of this misery is tough, though he is aware of punishments when
circumstances are challenged, he stands firm and declares he is the master of
his fate and is the captain of his soul. It is an inspiring poem showing the
way when things turn against us. When you are losing on all fronts, possibilities
of revival almost diminished, despair engulfs this poem provides a thread of
hope to hang on. The poem is not merely an imagination of poet or an
intellectual flight but it has come out of withering experience of life.
William Henley was fighting illness, his one foot was amputated and other was
to follow. He was staring at darkness. The amputation was necessary for his
survival. Just imagine the gloom, despair he was in. The poem took birth in this
shadow of dejection. He was a young boy struggling to survive, on the verge of
disability.
In the first stanza he pronounces his soul
unconquerable and thanks whatever god that may be. In the darkness of
depression he clings to his soul which is unaffected by the shadow of sadness.
It is a ray of hope. In the next two he exhibits fighting spirit. His refusal to
surrender, to cry and his will to face adversity fearlessly. It is truly
inspirational. When you confront the miserable condition you are punished by
the situation meaning the fight is not friendly it often is bloody. But the
final declaration comes in last two lines. I am the master of my fate, I am the
captain of my soul. These two lines define the philosophy of poem. Point to the
intellectual preparation to face the worst difficulty.
Fate is an obscure concept. When we
have unanswered personal questions like why this has happened to me, we
attribute it to fate. The reasons though sometimes known partially they are
often beyond the control of us. More often than not they lead to questions
without answer. We then take resort to fate. If fate is beyond our control how
can we be master of it? The answer is in the unconquered soul. It is an inner
self different from body. It is untouched by the circumstances, not affected by
the gloom around. When understood it provides us a fortress to survive
adversity. It is a spiritual realm.
It
very well defines the limitations of fate. Fate can affect the body but not
inner self. Fate cannot reach there. It remains unconquered. The real strength
is not physical it is intellectual, in understanding the limits of fate and
strength of inner self. The stronger the inner self better you are in mastering
the fate. You are the captain of your soul, the inner self. Indeed, it’s yours.
In fact it’s you in true sense. The fate however strong it may be cannot affect
inner self. This realization makes one invictus. The battle is within. He is
not a winner, more appropriately he cannot be defeated. Being invictus doesn’t
mean he always creates favourable conditions, he is the one who renders adverse
conditions ineffective. He never surrenders when hit hard by circumstances. He
has no complaints about the harsh situation. In the darkest hour he firmly
holds on to the ray of hope. Since he is fearless he is devoid of violence. He
is compassionate as he understands pain.
Invictus he is…
The master of his fate
And the captain of his soul.
The master of his fate
And the captain of his soul.
A beacon light of hope and inspiration.
