O Captain! My Captain!

[cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Language and literature can be a beautiful thing. It can evoke happiness and joy, it can provide encouragement and resolve, it can soothe heartache and provide words when one cannot find the words. There is a mighty power in words and when used wisely they can transform us.

I was reminded of that simple idea recently watching Dead Poets Society. This is a movie I should have watched years ago but for various reasons I never did. I am glad I watched it now, even if several decades late, for it reminded me of my own desire to read and learn the great literary pieces. Throughout the movie literature inspired the students to be more ambitious, to pursue their passions more, and it did so with poetic words. This is what I enjoy about literature – its ability to evoke passion and stir one to that pursuit.

Henry David Thoreau wrote in Walden, “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” While Thoreau wrote that line in the context of his book I think it has a larger impact. For me it means most people have passions they want to try, things they enjoy and mean something to them but things they rarely pursue. So they go through life never pursuing but desperately wanting to – a life of quiet desperation. That is a life I do not want to live. I do not want to be quiet with my head down but I want to be like Knox in Dead Poets Society who read a poem to a girl he liked in front of everyone. When asked what she said in response he responded, “Nothing, but I did it.”

Literature is one of my passions, one I have pursued off and on over the years. I enjoy it because it gives me good quotes for situations. For instance, if I ever feel barraged with negative comments from others I sometimes quote Poe’s introduction of The Cask of Amantillado, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” Meaning, I will only put up with so much, but once I reach that boiling point it’s on.

You yourself have probably used literature to get a point across. If you have ever said, “me thinks thou doth protest too much.” you are paraphrasing Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” This is why I enjoy literature, it helps us find out own voices even when quoting the voice of others.

Though literature is my passion, it may not be yours. I do not think we should all be literary scholars but I want to show you my passion, what it means to me and why I choose to pursue it. In turn I hope this can help you see what your passions are, figure out what they mean to you and encourage you to pursue them. In the end we all have a short time to live before we become like Whitman’s Captain[/cs_text][x_blockquote cite=”O Captain! My Captain!” type=”center”]But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.[/x_blockquote][cs_text]Live your life, pursue your passions, no long lead that life of quiet desperation but “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.” (To the Virgins, to make much of Time, Robert Herrick)

Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]