Commentary on the famous poem "Invictus" by W.E. Henley.CInvictus is indeed a good poem. It has been quoted again and again by all, formore than a century, as a source of spiritual strength and self mastery. It hasbeen declaimed by poets at their literature functions as well as by schoolchildren and university students.c"Out of the night that covers meBlack as the Pit from pole to pole"BIn retrospect, the poet viewed his life as being torturing, unpleasant one. Thepains were unbearable, and there was no way out, as yet. He was surroundered, fromall corners, by the ill circumstances, beyond his means of getting out.a"I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul"FHe thanked the gods, the deities, the angels, or whatever they may be, that werekind enough to help him going through the trying moments. With the help of thoseinspiring godsend heavenly beings, he was able to maintain his steadfastness andhis belief in his own self. Clearly, it was an admission that he was notenlightened enough by God Almighty, to positively know the types of those heavenlybeings that helped him, but he was grateful, and thanked them nevertheless. Thespiritual strength possessed by the poet is typical in the cases of all thosegreat people throughout the history of mankind. Whilst the belief in the self isvery much sought and maintained, the spiritual sources for its strength are nodoubt coming from God Almighty via the angels and other heavenly beings. In termsof modern psychology, this is the subconscious mind, the psyche, galvanised by thebelief in one God."In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud"IHe was subjected to by fate, by the orders from above, to the sufferings caused bythe unforgiving circumstance. So be it, he did not lose his faith in his own self,in the happiness that awaited him from afar. This has given him the strength toendure all the painful tortures of the circumstance that he was subjected to.Thus, he did not complain of his condition, he did not show the pain he had tobear and he kept it deep down under, to himself; for he knew the virtue ofpatience. He knew that the night would be replaced by dawn soon. And thesuffering, the happiness.s"Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloody, but unbowed" As a human being, the poet was subjected to the rule of nature. He felt the paincaused by the ill fate. The painful blow inflicted on him was unpredicted; it wasordained from above. In his full awareness and humility, he recognised hislimitations, but he strived to thrive. And he refused to be the victim of thecircumstance, because he believed in himself and in his ability to cure his heartwound.w"Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the Horror of the shade"LHe was aware that the patiently waited happiness was far from him. After the nearpain, there would be another awaiting.p
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