The poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley, reveals Ayn Rand’s philosophy of
individualism. Her philosophy, declared by “it regards man- everyman- as an
independent who possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived
from his nature as a rational being. Individualism holds that a civilized
society can be achieved only on the basis of the recognition of rights- and
that a group, as such, has no rights other than the individual rights of its
members” (The Ayn Rand Lexicon, p.218). This philosophy connects to the quote
“My head is bloody but unbowed” (Henley 8), in the poem. This shows the power
of ‘self’, because even though negative circumstances have been suppressing
him, he has found the power within himself to keep his head up and keep going.
Another quote that portrays Rand’s philosophy is, “I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul” (Henley 15-16). This anaphora exemplifies individualism by telling the
reader that no matter how hard his life is, he is the only person that has
control over his actions and thoughts.
