The Wreck of the Hesperus

"The Wreck of the Hesperus" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a sorrowful poem unfolding the misfortune of a ship and its crew during a powerful storm. The story centers on a captain who, full of pride, ignores cautions of a coming hurricane, which leads to disaster when his ship is caught in the heart of the tempest. Desperate to save his daughter, he ties her to the mast for safety; however, he is overcome by the storm. The ship crashes against rocks and breaks apart. The next day displays an affecting image of the young girl found dead, still fastened to the ship's mast, a symbol of the overwhelming power of nature and the frailty of human life.