William Ernest Henley is an amazing person and an amazing writer. He has a perplexed way of putting his words together. “Henley published several books of poetry, but is best remembered for the poem “Invictus,” which reflects his tenacious fight against the deadly disease” (Diniejko). “Invictus” is a very complex and truly remarkable poem. The word complex is used because many people who read this poem may not understand the feeling that William Henley is trying to convey through this particular poem. It takes tragedies, afflictions, hardships, and struggles to occur in someone's life to be able to relate to such a powerful poem. William Henley is about strength and survival in this unpredictable world when everyone around you thought you had given up or wanted you to. Instill the means to be victorious over everything that comes his way. The main purpose of the poem is to exemplify the speaker's past, present, and future. Throughout the poem the poet uses the words “I”, “mine” and “me”. The poet is showing that the poem is first person, which means the poem refers to the speaker. Many people who know William Henley's life background would agree that he had an "invincible" soul. Life's obstacles tried to hold him back, but he chose to overcome them and continued to move forward. William Henley was a young boy when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in his leg bone. William eventually had to have his leg amputated just below the knee. Doctors suggested he amputate his other leg, but he refused. William never rolled over and died, if that had been the case he would have let them take his other leg. He eventually found treatment at another hospital where he was treated by Dr. Joseph Lister. After a few years of... half the paper... it will be impregnable. The fourth stanza, which is a favorable stanza, is read: "No matter how narrow the door, how laden with punishments the parchment, I am the master of my destiny: I am the captain of my soul." This stanza states, whatever what happens, saying it twice in two different metaphors: “No matter how narrow the door, how laden with punishments the scroll.” No matter what happens in your life, emphasizing whatever happens in your life, “I am the master of my own destiny, I am the captain of my ship". You decide your destiny; you are the only one who chooses your own path in life. No one can choose your path for you. “When remembering Henley's constant pain due of tuberculosis and his poor childhood, one can learn to admire Henley's "invincible soul" even after the "blows of chance" (Fischer)..