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Symbolism In Walt Whitman's 'O Captain ! My Captain'

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“If my name ever goes in \to history it will be for this act”. A quote said by Abraham Lincoln who was one of the most famous and remembered presidents in history. For his actions that recreated America entirely. He created the emancipation proclamation which saved most of the enslaved african americans. And furthermore saved America from the civil war.”Emancipation” by Russell Freedman and “ O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman portray Lincoln as a fierce and capable leader through symbolism, historical references, and mood and tone.
In “O Captain! My Captain!” Walt Whitman portray Lincoln as a strong, capable leader through the use of symbolism. In the poem the author describes that the civil war though the crew of a ship and it also shows …show more content…
My captain!” and “ Emancipation” the authors portray Lincoln as a strong and capable leader through mood and tone. In “O Captain! My Captain!” the mood and tone changes suddenly to being about death.” My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will” (pg 262 line 18). The author is saying that Lincoln has died while the war was ending, through the expression of a vessel going into a dock. There are more quotes from “O Captain! My Captain!” that have similar changes like the last one. In the poem there is a change where everyone is happy. “ For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning” (pg 262 line 12). In the quote there are obvious signs of joy like “eager faces”,everyone is excited about the end of the war and want to know what Lincoln has to say. Then lastly there are some quotes in “ Emancipation” that resemble changes in mood and tone like the ones in “O Captain! My Captain!”. Throughout the passage there are phrases that talk about Lincoln’s journey through the singing of the emancipation proclamation and the feelings he had.” We are whipped again”(pg 259”. This quote said by lincoln shows us that he cared about what happened to his country. Also that he didn't know what to do next but publish the proclamation. Even after that defeat everyone was still willing to fight for the union, which meant that they believed in Lincoln as a strong leader for

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