The character John Keating, played by Robin Williams, used this Walt Whitman poem to set the stage for much of the movie, Dead Poet’s Society.
I do not dispute the original writing of the poem might literally be about the captain’s death and today it pays homage to Robin Williams. The movie did deal with the difficult issue of suicide. Having said this, I think it is important to consider a figurative meaning about teaching which was Keating’s profession in the movie so ably brought to life by Robin Williams.
I critiqued the movie from a teacher’s perspective while completing my Master’s degree. I spoke about the passion teaching brought into my life. I extend this to anything we choose to do. When we lose the spirit and voice that a vocation offers each of us, it is figuratively and literally a death, as well.
I recall using Parker Palmer’s quote about vocation and voice coming from the Latin vocere. Voice gives us life. Robin William’s portrayal of John Keating spoke deeply to me about holding true to the purposes we are called to in life.
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Such a powerful poem (or should I call it “ode”?)
Thank you very much for sharing also as a subtle tribute to RW.
Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
You are welcome and thank you for the comment.
Ever since I married a mariner, it’s been hard to read this poem, wholly different perspective from when in college. Perspective is key to so many things.
It is. When I used the poem and the movie in that course, it meant one thing. Today, put in a new context with Robin Williams’ death, it means something else. Perspective is the way we can see the world differently in each moment.
Almost none of the assessments of Robin William’s work mention his role in comedy ‘The Birdcage’ in which he played the part of a gay father who’d brought up a wonderful( straight) son. It was a brilliant performance, and a deeply felt expression of character. For me – it was his best role… closely followed of course, by Dead Poets….but a different kettle of fish !
He was a great actor and comedian who played many diverse roles incredibly well. He has left much for us to admire.
Look at what the man robin Williams brought to all of us that throughout his life, in vain he could reach or touch inside himself.
.
.
Beethoven was deaf, suffering but kept at it till his last breath, with passion.
Sometimes it is “disabilities” that provide the greatest creative passion and moments.There is such power in this passion.
Interesting, yes, I agree.
I had not really understood that perspective before from this poem (about career choices). Now I see it. Thank you. I agree that with RW death there is a different side, because if one makes the career choice one’s purpose in life and that begins to fade, what is left?
We all must strive for many purposes in life, so that is we lose one, life is still worth living.
That is a great closing comment Elizabeth. It broadens life out when we have a number of purposes.
your preamble set the stage for the reading just right.
“voice coming from the Latin vocere. Voice gives us life.” <,do you pronounce that voh-sear…?
nice, Ivon. Really good.
As a youth I was very taken with this poem. I am happy to say it has lost none of the love I’ve always had for it.
It came to life for me in Robin Williams’ portrayal of John Keats in Dead Poet’s Society.