O Captain

Season 3 Episode 184

This episode - “O Captain” deals with the relationship between Walt Whitman and Peter Doyle. “O Captain” describes how Walt and Peter met, their histories, and the possible influence of Peter Doyle on some of Whitman’s works - especially O Captain, My Captain. Peter Doyle was actually present at Lincoln’s murder, and the genesis of the use of “the captain steering a ship/country” is discussed. The episode ends with some sections of letters that Whitman and Doyle wrote to each other.

Who was Peter Doyle?
How did Peter Doyle and Walt Whitman meet?
Where did they meet?
What are some possible influences for “O Captain, My Captain”?
What influenced “Beat! Beat! Drums”?
Why was Lincoln’s assasination especially real to Peter Boyle?
What is the subject of “Come Up From the Fields, Father”?

00:00 Introduction
01:44 When Walt Met Peter
05:45 Beat! Beat! Drums
08:44 Lincoln’s Assassination
13:06 O Captain, My Captain
19:19 Whitman’s Health aand his love for Doyle
23:24 Doyle writes about Walt
24:45 Next episode
25:13 Sources
25:41 Outro

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Published on 2 years, 5 months ago

Podcast Episode Details

O Captain