Oh Captain! My Captain The ability to move a great people is a virtue that many leaders lack. Mourning the death of such a leader is an even greater task. Abraham Lincoln was an exception. In O Captain! My Captain, Walt Whitman metaphorically uses the image of a Captain to describe the respect, loyalty, and love he and his countrymen felt for Abraham Lincoln. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay For a Captain to lead his crew, he must have the respect of his crew. Abraham Lincoln had people behind him, people who would follow him courageously into any situation. The Captain in the poem had this respect. Oh Captain! My captain, our fearful voyage is over. Whitman tells of a scary journey, a journey taken only with someone respected and trusted. That trip was the Civil War. Lincoln won his fight, or, as Whitman says, the price we sought was won. Rather than mourn a death, people were prepared to celebrate Lincoln's victory. Whitman uses metaphors of bells and ribbon wreaths to show his loyalty to Lincoln. Lincoln's death was so sudden that it left the country in disbelief. There was an anxiety, a longing for his return, for you the crowded shores. A man calling another father is a sign of great love. A father is loved, respected and his children should show loyalty to him. When a parent dies, or anyone you love, it's not strange to actually look at them after their death. A deceased loved one will be buried and disappear forever. Years spent watching that person's smiles and expressions will almost be a memory. Whitman looks at his Captain, his father. He examines his pale lips and his stillness in a kind of awkward silence. In the last verse, Whitman begins to feel real joy, joy in the memory of Lincoln. Even though you feel pain, joy shines through. Whitman must remember that Lincoln won, that there should be feelings of joy and triumphant power. Rejoice, oh shores, and ring, oh bells! these are strong words, words that give power. Expressions that should be heard if a leader was great. If a follower feels moved by a dead leader and feels he or she must continue searching for that leader, it means the leader has done a successful job. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Whitman accepts Lincoln's death with dignity and sympathy for the nation. Use sadness and happiness together gracefully without ever losing the seriousness of the matter.